- Date
- October 18, 1992, 11:07 local (18:07 UTC)
- Place
- Fullerton, CA
- Injuries
- 2 serious
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Approach
- Aircraft
- N9SQCessna T337G
- Weather
- Instrument (IMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report September 14, 1993
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19921018042359A
- Case key
- 27806
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain control of the aircraft during a circle to land maneuver in reduced visibility conditions. A factor in the accident was his distraction while reconfiguring the aircraft for a go around which led to an inadvertent entry into a steep descending turn at low altitude.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The pilot and his son departed on an IFR flight plan 38 days after obtaining his instrument rating, in a recently purchased airplane. The pilot completed a localizer approach to runway 24. Ground witnesses stated that the airplane was high on final, with the majority of the witnesses reporting that the aircraft was 500 feet at the approach end of the runway. The pilot requested a circle to land, which was approved by the tower. Witnesses stated that the airplane overflew the 3121 foot runway at about 100 to 200 feet AGL, and, at the departure end, applied full power. The witnesses reported that at about 500 feet past the runway end, the pilot started a left turn with a bank angle estimated at about 30 to 45 degrees, then leveled out. The aircraft then entered a steep left turn of about 80 degrees of bank while descending. During the final turn, the witnesses saw the landing gear retracting. Post crash examination revealed that the wing flaps were in transit at the time of impact.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N9SQ
- Reported as
- Cessna T337G
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- P337 0256
- Engine
- Continental TSIO 360 CB6B, 225 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Albert R. Swafford
- Registered owner
- Albert R. Swafford
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · August 3, 1992
- Departed
- MRY · Monterey, CA
- Flight plan
- IFR
- Airport
- FUL · Fullerton Muni, runway 24, 3,121 × 75 ft, asphalt
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 47
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 369 total · 60 in this make and model · 249 as pilot in command · 45 in the last 90 days · 20 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Instrument (IMC) · Day
- Wind
- Calm
- Visibility
- 1 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 1,200 ft overcast
- Temperature
- 64 °F, dew point 57 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- FUL, 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.