# NTSB LAX90FA292: Piper PA-28RT-201, N3054N, Long Beach, CA, August 19, 1990 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report - Date: August 19, 1990, 15:26 local (22:26 UTC) - Place: Long Beach, CA - Coordinates: 33.779575, -118.120475 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.7796&lon=-118.1205&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 4 fatal - Status: Completed, report December 30, 1992 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 26650 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX90FA292 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/26650/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX90FA292 ## Probable cause (aircraft 2) THE INADEQUATE VISUAL OUTLOOK OF THE PILOTS OF THE CESSNA 172P AND THEIR FAILURE TO SEE AND AVOID THE PIPER PA- 28RT-201. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE AZIMUTH AND ANGLE OF THE SUN WHICH WAS IN A POSITION AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT TO IMPAIR THE SCAN OF THE CESSNA 172P PILOTS. ## Probable cause (aircraft 1) THE INADEQUATE VISUAL OUTLOOK OF THE PILOTS OF THE CESSNA 172P AND THEIR FAILURE TO SEE AND AVOID THE PIPER PA- 28RT-201. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE AZIMUTH AND ANGLE OF THE SUN WHICH WAS IN A POSITION AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT TO IMPAIR THE SCAN OF THE CESSNA 172P PILOTS. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Midair collision, cruise - light condition - sunglare (contributing factor) - visual lookout - inadequate, pilot of other aircraft (cause) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled - terrain condition - water - Midair collision, cruise - light condition - sunglare (contributing factor) - visual lookout - inadequate, pilot in command(cfi) (cause) - visual lookout - inadequate, dual student (cause) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled - terrain condition - water ## Analysis (aircraft 2) A PIPER PA 28RT-201 AND A CESSNA 172P WERE FLYING PARALLEL WESTERLY COURSES ABOVE A JETTY WHICH FORMED A LINEAR GROUND REFERENCE OVER OPEN WATER. THE PIPER WAS TO THE LEFT OF THE CESSNA JUST PRIOR TO THE COLLISION. THE PIPER WAS CONFIGURED FOR SLOW FLIGHT WITH THE FLAPS EXTENDED AND LANDING GEAR DOWN. THE CESSNA FLAPS WERE RETRACTED AND THE CESSNA WAS FLYING FASTER THAN THE PIPER. THE CESSNA STRUCK THE PIPER'S OUTBOARD RIGHT WING TIP WITH THE LEFT WING STRUT SEVERING THE RIGHT WING TIP AND BENDING THE REMAINING OUTBOARD PORTION OF THE WING SPAR FORWARD. THE OUTBOARD PORTION OF THE PIPER'S RIGHT WING WAS SEVERED. THE AZIMUTH AND ANGLE OF THE SUN WAS TO THE LEFT AND TO THE FRONT OF BOTH AIRPLANES. ## Analysis (aircraft 1) A PIPER PA-28RT-201 AND A CESSNA 172P WERE FLYING PARALLEL WESTERLY COURSES ABOVE A JETTY WHICH FORMED A LINEAR GROUND REFERENCE OVER OPEN WATER. THE PIPER WAS TO THE LEFT OF THE CESSNA JUST PRIOR TO THE COLLISION. THE PIPER WAS CONFIGURED FOR SLOW FLIGHT WITH THE FLAPS EXTENDED AND LANDING GEAR DOWN. THE CESSNA FLAPS WERE RETRACTED AND THE CESSNA WAS FLYING FASTER THAN THE PIPER. THE CESSNA STRUCK THE PIPER'S OUTBOARD RIGHT WING TIP WITH THE LEFT WING STRUT SEVERING THE RIGHT WING TIP AND BENDING THE REMAINING OUTBOARD PORTION OF THE WING SPAR FORWARD. THE OUTBOARD PORTION OF THE PIPER'S RIGHT WING WAS SEVERED. THE AZIMUTH AND ANGLE OF THE SUN WAS TO THE LEFT AND TO THE FRONT OF BOTH AIRPLANES. ## Aircraft 1 - Registration: [N3054N](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3054N-1991-12-13), registration cancelled 1991-12-13, S/N 28R7918045 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28RT-201 (PA-28RT-20) - Registry model: [Piper PA-28RT-201](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28rt-201) (registry code 7102818) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 28-7918045 - Airframe hours: 3048 - Engines: LYCOMING IO-360-C166 200 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Benbow Aviation - Registered owner: Valkenburg - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, August 6, 1990, 2 hours before - Departed: T0A, TORRANCE, CA ## Aircraft 2 - Registration: [N114RJ](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N114RJ-2013-03-25), registration cancelled 2013-03-25, S/N 17275250, built 1981 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 172P - Registry model: [Cessna 172P](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172p) (registry code 2072436) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17275250 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320-D2J 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Fire: Unknown - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: Ray Jean Bull - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, August 16, 1990, 11 hours before - Departed: LGB, LONG BEACH, CA ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot, aircraft N3054N; age 21; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 293 total, 8 in this make and model, 146 as pilot in command, 30 in the last 90 days, 17 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours - Pilot, aircraft N114RJ; age 21; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: right; toxicology performed; flight hours: 271 total, 114 in this make and model, 128 as pilot in command, 49 in the last 90 days, 20 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 220° at 10 knots - Visibility: 20 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 61 °F - Altimeter: 29.89 inHg - Observed at: LGB, 6 nm away ## FAA reports on this event (2) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 19900819033841A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19900819033841A), Aug 19, 1990: Piper PA28RT201, Long Beach, CA, Destroyed, 2 fatal. Flying parallel turned,right wing collided with left wing N114RJ.both lost portions of wings,crashed out of control - [Accident 19900819033842A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19900819033842A), Aug 19, 1990: Cessna 172P, Long Beach, CA, Destroyed, 2 fatal. Flying parallel was struck by N3054N as it began a turn. Both lost portion of wings and fell into ocean. From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.