# NTSB LAX92FA156: Beech B95, N9652R, Devore, CA, March 29, 1992

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: March 28, 1992, 19:40 local (Mar 29, 1992, 03:40 UTC)
- Place: Devore, CA
- Location: 34.2164° N, 117.4014° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Devore, CA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.2164&lon=-117.4014&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 3 fatal
- Status: Completed, report January 4, 1994
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 27415
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX92FA156
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/27415/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX92FA156

## Probable cause

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN AN ADEQUATE ALTITUDE WHILE FLYING OVER MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE LOW CLOUDS, DARK NIGHT, AND MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN.

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight collision with terrain/water, cruise
  - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor)
  - light condition - dark night (contributing factor)
  - terrain condition - mountainous/hilly (contributing factor)
  - altitude - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

APPROACHING THE DESTINATION AIRPORT IN A MOUNTAIN PASS AREA, THE PILOT ENCOUNTERED LOW CEILINGS AND MARGINAL VFR WEATHER CONDITIONS. IT WAS A DARK NIGHT. UNABLE TO REACH HIS DESTINATION, THE PILOT REVERSED COURSE. WHILE FLYING NORTHBOUND THE AIRPLANE CRUISED INTO THE SIDE OF A MOUNTAIN. RESULTS OF THE TOXICOLOGICAL EXAMINATION REVEALED TETRAHYDROCANNABINOL CARBOXYLIC ACID (MARIHUANA) IN THE PILOT'S BLOOD AT A LEVEL OF 0.003 UG/ML.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N9652R](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9652R-1992-10-26), registration cancelled 1992-10-26, S/N TD349 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BEECH B95
- Registry model: [Beech B95](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-b95) (registry code 1153404) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: TD-349
- Airframe hours: 5340
- Engines: LYCOMING O-360-A1A 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Hmdr Enterprises
- Registered owner: Hmdr Enterprises
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, March 25, 1992, 7 hours before
- Departed: L15, HENDERSON, NV
- Destination: HMT, HEMET, CA

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 26; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; toxicology performed; flight hours: 467 total, 81 in this make and model, 412 as pilot in command, 37 in the last 90 days, 15 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 240° at 1 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 5,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 59 °F, dew point 52 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: SBD, 12 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 19920328007909A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19920328007909A), Mar 28, 1992: Beech B95, Devore, CA, Destroyed, 3 fatal. Flew into side of a mountain at night in VFR. No communications flight plan or weather briefing.

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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