# NTSB LAX91LA380: Cessna C-340A, N4298C, Brawley, CA, September 2, 1991

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: September 1, 1991, 19:00 local (Sep 2, 1991, 02:00 UTC)
- Place: Brawley, CA
- Coordinates: 33.019226, -115.449081 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.0192&lon=-115.4491&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 3 minor
- Status: Completed, report May 3, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 27347
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX91LA380
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/27347/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX91LA380

## Probable cause

THE PILOT'S SELECTION OF THE WRONG LANDING RUNWAY AND HIS FAILURE TO ATTAIN THE PROPER TOUCHDOWN LOCATION.  FACTORS WHICH CONTRIBUTED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE RELATED TO THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE OBSERVATIONS OF THE WEATHER AND THE TAILWIND CONDITION WHICH EXISTED.

## Sequence of events

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

- Overrun, landing - roll
  - weather observation - inadequate, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - tailwind (contributing factor)
  - wrong runway - selected, pilot in command (cause)
  - proper touchdown point - not attained, pilot in command (cause)
- On ground/water collision with object, landing - roll
  - object - pole
- Fire, landing - roll

## Analysis

RETURNING TO THE PILOT'S HOME BASE AIRPORT, THE PILOT INDICATED THAT HE OVERFLEW THE UNCONTROLLED FIELD AND THEN ENTERED THE TRAFFIC PATTERN FOR RUNWAY 26 WHICH WAS OVER 4400 FEET LONG.  THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE OBSERVED THE WIND SOCK WAS PARALLEL TO THE RUNWAY BUT FAILED TO INITIALLY OBSERVE THAT HE WAS LANDING WITH A NEARLY DIRECT 20 TO 25 KNOT TAILWIND. THE AIRPLANE TOUCHED DOWN LONG, OVERRAN THE RUNWAY'S DEPARTURE END, COLLIDED WITH A POLE AND CAUGHT ON FIRE.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N4298C](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4298C-1992-02-20), registration cancelled 1992-02-20, S/N 340A0601 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA C-340A
- Registry model: [Cessna 340A](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-340a) (registry code 2076405) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 340A0601
- Engines: CONTINENTAL TSIO-520NB 310 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Norman Baron
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Unknown, January 2, 2000
- Departed: MYF, SAN DIEGO, CA
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: BWC, Brawley Municipal, runway 26, 4,447 × 60 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 47; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; flight hours: 1,597 total, 322 in this make and model, 1,475 as pilot in command, 27 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 90° at 20 knots, gusting 25
- Visibility: 3 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 95 °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 19910901037499A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19910901037499A), Sep 1, 1991: Cessna 340A, Brawley, CA, Destroyed. Landed in strong tailwind. Ran off end runway through a fence over a railroad and burned. Wind sock faded.

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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