# NTSB LAX91LA067: Piper PA 34-200T, N66SL, Red Bluff, CA, January 7, 1991

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: January 6, 1991, 18:35 local (Jan 7, 1991, 02:35 UTC)
- Place: Red Bluff, CA
- Coordinates: 40.130733, -122.430061 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.1307&lon=-122.4301&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 3 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report December 4, 1992
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 27087
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX91LA067
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/27087/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX91LA067

## Probable cause

THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT IN COMMAND TO DETECT A DESCENT BELOW THE MINIMUM DESCENT ALTITUDE FOR THE APPROACH IN USE.

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight collision with terrain/water, approach - faf/outer marker to threshold (ifr)
  - minimum descent altitude - exceeded, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

THE PILOT SAID THE FLIGHT WAS NORMAL UNTIL ESTABLISHED ON THE VOR APPROACH.  AFTER THE AIRCRAFT COMPLETED THE PROCEDURE TURN AND WAS INBOUND TO THE VOR THE PILOT NOTICED THAT THE AIRCRAFT WAS DESCENDING THROUGH ABOUT 1,300 FEET MSL (1,000 FEET AGL) AND THAT THE DESCENT RATE WAS STABALIZED AND WAS SUFFICIENT TO MAKE THE CROSSING RESTRICTION AT THE VOR.  THE PILOT STATED THAT SHE THEN SCANNED THE VOR NAVIGATION HEADS 'FOR A FEW SECONDS' TO CROSS CHECK THE AIRCRAFT POSITION ON THE APPROACH COURSE RADIAL.  SHORTLY THEREAFTER, THE AIRCRAFT FLEW INTO LEVEL TERRAIN ABOUT 1.5 MILES SOUTH OF THE AIRPORT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N66SL](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N66SL-2014-11-26), registration cancelled 2014-11-26, S/N 34-8070038, built 1979 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA 34-200T
- Registry model: [Piper PA-34-200T](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-34-200t) (registry code 7103406) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental TSIO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-tsio-360-series) (registry code 17019, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 34-8070038
- Engines: CONTINENTAL TS10-360EB 200 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Executive/Corporate, Part 91
- Operator: Shasta Livestock, Inc
- Departed: RDM, REDMOND, OR
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: RBL, Red Bluff, runway 33, 5,984 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 27; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; flight hours: 1,925 total, 446 in this make and model, 1,784 as pilot in command, 163 in the last 90 days, 34 in the last 30 days, 7 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Night/dark
- Wind: calm
- Lowest ceiling: 700 ft overcast
- Temperature: -0 °F, dew point -0 °F
- Observed at: RBL, 1 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 19910106000279A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19910106000279A), Jan 6, 1991: Piper PA34200T, Red Bluff, CA, Substantial damage. Collided with terrain short of runway on VOR approach. Weather below minimums.

## Other investigations on N66SL (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 LAX88LA186](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX88LA186), May 14, 1988: Piper PA-34-200T (N66SL), Merced, CA, substantial damage

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.