# NTSB LAX92LA123: Beech C-23, N2169W, Fullerton, CA, February 22, 1992

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: February 22, 1992, 15:00 local (23:00 UTC)
- Place: Fullerton, CA
- Location: 33.8720° N, 117.9798° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at FULLERTON MUNI (FUL), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.8720&lon=-117.9798&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report June 11, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 27562
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX92LA123
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/27562/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX92LA123

## Probable cause

WAS THE PILOT'S POORLY PLANNED APPROACH.  CONTRIBUTING TO THIS ACCIDENT WAS THE PREVAILING HAZE/SMOKE, THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO ATTAIN A PROPER GLIDEPATH, PROPER TOUCH DOWN POINT AND EXCESSIVE FINAL APPROACH AIRSPEED.

## Sequence of events

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

- Overrun, landing - roll
  - weather condition - haze/smoke (contributing factor)
  - planned approach - poor, pilot in command (cause)
  - proper touchdown point - not attained, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - proper glidepath - not attained, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - airspeed - excessive, pilot in command (contributing factor)

## Analysis

AFTER ENTERING THE DOWNWIND LEG FOR RUNWAY 24, THE LOCAL CONTROLLER INSTRUCTED THE FLIGHT TO EXTEND THE DOWNWIND LEG. THREE MINUTES LATER, WHEN THE AIRPLANE WAS ABOUT 4 MILES EAST OF THE AIRPORT, THE LOCAL CONTROLLER CLEARED THE FLIGHT TO TURN BASE FOLLOWED BY A CLEARANCE TO LAND.  THE PREVAILING VISIBILITY WAS ABOUT 4 MILES WITH HAZE.  THE PILOT WAS UNABLE TO SEE THE AIRPORT BECAUSE OF THE SUN GLARE MIXED WITH THE HAZE AND USED THE LOCALIZER FOR GUIDANCE TO THE AIRPORT.  THE PILOT MAINTAINED THE BASE LEG ALTITUDE UNTIL HE COULD READILY IDENTIFY THE RUNWAY WHICH HE DID WHEN THE AIRPLANE WAS ABOUT A MILE EAST OF THE AIRPORT.  THE PILOT IMMEDIATELY BEGAN THE DESCENT, BUT WHEN HE FLARED THE AIRPLANE FOR LANDING IT BEGAN TO FLOAT.  THE AIRPLANE TOUCHED DOWN BEYOND MIDFIELD, BOUNCED THREE TIMES AND THE PILOT APPLIED HARD BRAKING.  THE AIRPLANE SWERVED TO THE RIGHT, EXITED THE RUNWAY, AND COLLIDED WITH THE FENCE THAT TRAVERSES NORTH AND SOUTH AT THE AIRPORT BOUNDARY.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N2169W](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2169W-1992-09-22), registration cancelled 1992-09-22, S/N M1570 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BEECH C-23
- Registry model: [Beech C23](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-c23) (registry code 1151242) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: M1570
- Airframe hours: 1476
- Engines: LYCOMING O-360-A4J 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Eldon R. Howe
- Registered owner: Eldon R. Howe
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal; Standard, Utility
- Last inspection: Annual, January 7, 1992, 6 hours before
- Departed: RAL, RIVERSIDE, CA
- Airport: FUL, Fullerton, runway 24, 3,121 × 75 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 64; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 969 total, 500 in this make and model, 900 as pilot in command, 7 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 180° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 4 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 57 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg

## Other investigations on N2169W (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 OAK76FVM24](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/OAK76FVM24), Feb 21, 1976: Beech C23 (N2169W), Santa Cruz, 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.

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