# NTSB LAX93FA014: Cessna T337G, N9SQ, Fullerton, CA, October 18, 1992

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: October 18, 1992, 11:07 local (18:07 UTC)
- Place: Fullerton, CA
- Location: 33.8857° N, 117.9280° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Fullerton, CA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.8857&lon=-117.9280&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 2 serious
- Status: Completed, report September 14, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 27806
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX93FA014
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/27806/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX93FA014

## 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

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

- In flight collision with object, circling (ifr)
  - weather condition - fog
  - object - tree(s)
  - aircraft control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - diverted attention, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - descent - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## 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](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9SQ-1996-05-22), registration cancelled 1996-05-22, S/N P3370256 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA T337G
- Registry model: [Cessna T337G](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-t337g) (registry code 2075726) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: P337 0256
- Engines: 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

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 47; 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 (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19921018042359A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19921018042359A), Oct 18, 1992: Cessna T337G, Fullerton, CA, Destroyed. High after VOR approach. Stalled and crash into trees and building trying to circle land.

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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