# NTSB LAX90LA141: Fairchild SA227AC, N27220, Panoche, CA, April 1, 1990

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: April 1, 1990, 08:00 local (15:00 UTC)
- Place: Panoche, CA
- Coordinates: 36.890953, -121.239868 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.8910&lon=-121.2399&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report December 14, 1992
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 26773
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX90LA141
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/26773/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX90LA141

## Probable cause

THE PILOT'S POOR JUDGMENT IN ATTEMPTING A FLIGHT WHILE BEING FATIGUED DUE TO THE LACK OF SLEEP WHICH RESULTED IN A LOSS OF CONTROL AND SUBSEQUENT OVERSTRESSING OF THE AIRPLANE.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - in flight, cruise
  - judgment - poor, pilot in command (cause)
  - aircraft control - uncontrolled, pilot in command (cause)
  - fatigue(lack of sleep), pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - airspeed(vne) - exceeded, pilot in command (cause)
- Altitude deviation,uncontrolled, descent - uncontrolled
- Abrupt maneuver, descent - uncontrolled
  - design stress limits of aircraft - exceeded, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

THE COMMUTER AIR CARRIER CAPTAIN'S LAST SCHEDULED FLIGHT HAD TERMINATED IN SACRAMENTO ON 3/31. HE INFORMED HIS CARRIER THAT HE WOULD LIKE TO BE LOCATED IN THE LOS ANGELES OR SANTA BARBARA AREA BY 4/1. THEY OFFERED THE AIRPLANE WHICH NEEDED TO BE REPOSITIONED TO SANTA BARBARA. HE HAD NEVER PILOTED THE AIRPLANE SOLO, BUT DID NOT WANT TO WAIT FOR A CO-PILOT. THE PILOT STATED HE CLIMBED TO 17,500 FT, TRIMMED THE AIRPLANE FOR CRUISE FLIGHT, AND 'DOZED OFF' SEVERAL TIMES. WHEN HE LAST AWOKE THE AIRPLANE WAS DESCENDING AT OVER 300 KTS (VNE IS 246 KTS). HE WAS ONLY ABLE TO RECOVER USING ELECTRIC TRIM. THE UPPER WING SKIN PANEL DAMAGE WAS LATER OBSERVED BY A PASSENGER ON A SUBSEQUENT FLIGHT. ACCORDING TO THE AIRPLANE'S MANUFACTURER, THE AIRPLANE WOULD HAVE HAD TO EXPERIENCE A CALCULATED LOAD FACTOR OF 7.8 G'S TO SUSTAIN THE OBSERVED DAMAGE TO THE WING SKIN PANELS, STRINGERS AND MAIN SPARS. THE PILOT STATED HE HAD ONLY SLEPT 1-1/2 TO 2 HRS DURING THE PRECEDING 24-HR PERIOD.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N27220](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N27220-1998-05-06), registration cancelled 1998-05-06, S/N AC718 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: FAIRCHILD SA227AC
- Registry model: [Fairchild SA227-AC](https://openairdocs.org/model/fairchild-sa227-ac) (registry code 3377509) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: AC-718
- Engines: GARRETT TPE 331-11 1100 horsepower turbo prop
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Positioning, Part 91
- Operator: Skywest Airlines Inc.
- Registered owner: Unknown
- Departed: SMF, SACRAMNETO, CA
- Destination: SBA, SANTA BARBARA, CA
- Flight plan: Company VFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 38; airline transport, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; flight hours: 6,304 total, 2,093 in this make and model, 5,114 as pilot in command, 254 in the last 90 days, 115 in the last 30 days, 7 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: -0 °F, dew point -0 °F

## 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 19900401013899A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19900401013899A), Apr 1, 1990: Swrngn SA227AC, Panoche, CA, Substantial damage. Pilot reported he dozed off. Dive ensued exceeding vne. Recovered but wrinkled wings. Failed to report.

## Other investigations on N27220 (1)

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.

- [NTSB LAX94IA203](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX94IA203), Apr 23, 1994: Fairchild SA-227 (N27220), Santa Monica, CA, incident, minor damage. Probable cause: FAA INADEQUATE SEPARATION STANDARDS BETWEEN LARGE AND HEAVY CATEGORY AIRCRAFT.

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.

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