# NTSB LAX90FA332: Cessna 500, N79DD, San Luis Obispo, CA, September 24, 1990

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: September 24, 1990, 07:02 local (14:02 UTC)
- Place: San Luis Obispo, CA
- Coordinates: 35.250076, -120.620872 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.2501&lon=-120.6209&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 4 fatal
- Status: Completed, report May 28, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 26658
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX90FA332
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/26658/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX90FA332

## Probable cause

THE PILOT'S IMPROPER IFR (INSTRUMENT) PROCEDURE, AND HIS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN THE MINIMUM DESCENT ALTITUDE (MDA) FOR THE APPROACH.  THE ADVERSE WEATHER WAS A RELATED FACTOR.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- In flight collision with object, approach - faf/outer marker to threshold (ifr)
  - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - fog (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - obscuration (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - below approach/landing minimums (contributing factor)
  - ifr procedure - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - object - tree(s)
  - minimum descent altitude - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

THE FLT WAS CLRD FOR A LOC RWY 11 APCH.  ABOUT 3 MIN LATER, THE 2ND-IN-COMMAND (SIC) RPRTD ' . . . WE DON'T GET THE LOCALIZER CAN YOU SEE IF WE'RE ON COURSE.'  THE LAX ARTCC R-15 CTLR CONFIRMED THE FLT WAS RGT OF COURSE & BELOW THE RQRD ALT.  THE ACFT'S MODE C INDCD AN ALT OF 1400 FT; THE CTLR ADZD THE FLT CREW TO MAINT AT LEAST 2300 FT UNTIL PAST THE FINAL APPROACH FIX (FAF).  THE CREW THEN REPLIED THAT THEY WERE IN VMC.  RADAR SVC WAS TERMINATED & A FREQ CHANGE TO TOWER WAS APPROVED.  SHORTLY THEREAFTER, THE ACFT HIT A EUCALYPTUS TREE AT ABT 90 FT AGL, 2.05 MI FM THE APCH END OF THE RWY & ABT 195 FT RGT OF THE LOC.  ELEV OF THE CRASH SITE WAS 101 FT; MIN DSCNT ALT (MDA) FOR THE APCH WAS 640 FT. THE 0645 PDT WX WAS, IN PART: INDEFINITE CEILING, 100 FT OBSCURED, VIS 1/8 MI WITH FOG, WIND FROM 220 DEG AT 4 KTS.  NO PREIMPACT PART FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION OF THE ACFT WAS FOUND.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N79DD](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N79DD-2013-06-07), registration cancelled 2013-06-07, S/N 500-0254, built 1975 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 500
- Registry model: [Cessna 500](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-500) (registry code 2076602) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney Canada JT15D-1A](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-canada-jt15d-1a) (registry code 52110, turbo-fan) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 500-0254
- Airframe hours: 4197
- Engines: P&W JT-15D-1A 2200 lbs thrust turbo fan
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Hi Tech Helicopters, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, July 19, 1990, 2 hours before
- Departed: VNY, VAN NUYS, CA
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: SBP, San Luis Obispo, runway 11, 4,799 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 38; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 1,021 total, 95 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day
- Wind: 220° at 4 knots
- Lowest ceiling: 100 ft
- Temperature: 59 °F, dew point 57 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: SBP, 2 nm away

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19900924042189A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19900924042189A), Sep 24, 1990: Cessna 500CESSNA, San Luis Obispo, CA, Destroyed, 4 fatal. Descended below dh on ILS approach. Struck trees. Weather below landing minimums. Advised too low. Reported visual.

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.