# NTSB LAX94LA025: Wittman Tailwind W8L, N9052C, San Jose, CA, October 27, 1993 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: October 27, 1993, 14:39 local (21:39 UTC) - Place: San Jose, CA - Coordinates: 37.339397, -121.899101 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.3394&lon=-121.8991&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 2 fatal - Status: Completed, report June 17, 1994 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 28579 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX94LA025 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/28579/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX94LA025 ## Probable cause THE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER FOR AN UNDETERMINED REASON(S). A FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT WAS THE UNSUITABLE NATURE OF THE TERRAIN ENCOUNTERED DURING THE FORCED LANDING. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, approach - vfr pattern - final approach - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause) - Forced landing, landing - flare/touchdown - On ground/water collision with object, landing - roll - terrain condition - none suitable (contributing factor) - terrain condition - residential area (contributing factor) - object - tree(s) - object - vehicle ## Analysis THE AIRPLANE HAD BEEN IN STORAGE FOR 10 YRS. IN MAY 1993, IT WAS REMOVED FROM STORAGE AND A CONDITION INSPECTION PERFORMED. THE ACCIDENT FLIGHT WAS THE SECOND SINCE REMOVAL FROM STORAGE. AFTER THE AIRPLANE WAS SEQUENCED FOR LANDING, THE LOCAL CONTROLLER HEARD A GARBLED TRANSMISSION FROM THE AIRPLANE CONCERNING THE ENGINE. NO FURTHER TRANSMISSIONS WERE HEARD. GROUND WITNESSES REPORTED THAT THE AIRPLANE APPEARED TO BE ATTEMPTING TO LAND ON A RESIDENTIAL CITY STREET WITH THE PROPELLER STOPPED. IT THEN COLLIDED WITH 3 TREES, A PARKED PICKUP TRUCK, AND THE STREET. FIRE CONSUMED THE AIRPLANE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT DRAINED ABOUT 10 GALS OF FUEL FROM THE FUSELAGE TANK AFTER THE FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED. THE DRAINED FUEL HAD AN ODOR AND COLOR SIMILAR TO AUTOMOTIVE GASOLINE. THE ENGINE WAS SUBSEQUENTLY INSTALLED ON A TEST STAND AND RUN FOR 4 MIN 40 SECS. MAGNETO CHECKS WERE SATISFACTORY, AND THE ENGINE RESPONDED WELL TO RAPID THROTTLE MOVEMENTS. ## Factual narrative On October 27, 1993, at 1439 Pacific daylight time, an experimental homebuilt Wittman Tailwind W8L airplane, N9052C, collided with trees and a city street while attempting a forced landing in a residential area in San Jose, California. The aircraft was on approach to San Jose International Airport when the local controller in the tower cab heard a garbled transmission from the pilot concerning the engine. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed for the cross-country personal flight. The aircraft was destroyed in the collision sequence and postcrash fire. The certificated airline transport pilot and his one passenger sustained fatal injuries. Three trees, portions of a city street, and a pickup truck were damaged in the accident. The flight originated at Watsonville, California, on the day of the mishap at about 1400 hours as a cross-country flight to San Jose. According to information obtained from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Air Traffic Control Tower (ATCT) at San Jose, the pilot telephoned the tower to request permission to enter the Class C airspace at the airport without an operable transponder. The pilot explained that he was bringing the aircraft to San Jose to have the transponder repaired. The tower personnel granted permission for the entry and arranged for the pilot to contact the tower over a local area airport for sequencing. According to the tower controllers, the pilot contacted the facility by radio at the agreed upon location and was sequenced for landing. At about 1437 hours, the local controller heard a garbled transmission from the aircraft concerning the engine. No further transmissions were heard from the aircraft. Ground witnesses reported that the aircraft appeared to be attempting to land on a residential city street with the propeller stopped. The aircraft collided with three trees, a parked pickup truck, and the street. A fire began which consumed the aircraft. FAA inspectors from the San Jose Flight Standards District Office responded to the accident site. They reported that the engine separated from the aircraft at the firewall and was not involved in the postcrash fire. No external evidence of catastrophic engine failure was observed. The engine and related components were removed from the site for detailed follow-up examinations. The fire department drained about 10 gallons of fuel from the fuselage tank after the fire was extinguished. According to the responding FAA inspectors, the drained fuel had an odor and color similar to automotive gasoline. According to the FAA inspectors who examined the maintenance records, the aircraft had reportedly been in storage for 10 years. During the first part of May 1993, the aircraft was removed from storage and a condition inspection performed. The accident flight was reported to be the second flight since removal from storage. On November 3, 1993, the engine was examined by FAA airworthiness inspectors. Impact related damage was observed to the number four cylinder rocker arm boss. The top spark plugs were of the fine wire type and appeared to be excessively worn. The bottom spark plugs were reported to be serviceable. The magnetos were found to be timed at 20 degrees for the left and 25 degrees for the right; the engine data plate specified magneto timing at 18 degrees. After the visual examination, the engine was installed on a test stand and run for 4 minutes 40 seconds. Magneto checks were satisfactory and the reporting FAA inspectors noted that the engine responded to rapid throttle movements. An autopsy was performed on the pilot by the Santa Clara County Medical Examiners Office. The attesting pathologists reported the cause of death to be multiple traumatic injury and no pre existing conditions were noted which would have affected the decedents ability to pilot an aircraft. Samples were retained for toxicological analysis with negative results for volatiles and all screened drug substances. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9052C](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9052C-2008-06-11), registration cancelled 2008-06-11, S/N 9, built 1955 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: WITTMAN TAILWIND W8L (TAILWIND W) - Registry model: [Wittman W8L](https://openairdocs.org/model/wittman-w8l) (registry code 979029D) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-290 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-290-series) (registry code 41506, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 9 - Airframe hours: 1441 - Engines: LYCOMING O-290-D2 140 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Alfred E. Mccaulou - Registered owner: Alfred E. Mccaulou - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, May 26, 1994, 2 hours before - Departed: WVA, WATSONVILLE, CA - Destination: SJC - Airport: San Jose Intl ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 56; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 4,000 total, 1,500 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 20 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 88 °F, dew point 34 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: SJC, 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 19931027040749A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19931027040749A), Oct 27, 1993: Amtrwt TAILWINDW8, San Jose, CA, Destroyed, 2 fatal. Engine quit on approach. Prop stopped. Hit trees and truck on city street. No engine defects. Auto fuel in use. ## Other investigations on N9052C (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 MKC66D0066](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MKC66D0066), Jun 20, 1965: Tailwind W8L (N9052C), Chillicothe, MO, 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.