# NTSB LAX95LA127: Boeing B75N1, N450SR, Gaviota, CA, March 5, 1995 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: March 4, 1995, 16:15 local (Mar 5, 1995, 00:15 UTC) - Place: Gaviota, CA - Coordinates: 34.499366, -120.119079 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.4994&lon=-120.1191&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 27, 1995 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 29050 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX95LA127 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/29050/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX95LA127 ## Probable cause inadequate maintenance and service of the aircraft's carburetor heat system, and the pilot's intentional flight into adverse weather conditions. The lack of a suitable area for the emergency landing was a factor. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - mech failure/malf, cruise - weather condition - carburetor icing conditions - carburetor heat control - improper - anti-ice/deice system,carburetor/heat - maintenance,service of aircraft/equipment - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - weather evaluation - improper, pilot in command (contributing factor) - flight into adverse weather - intentional, pilot in command (cause) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - In flight collision with terrain/water, landing - flare/touchdown - terrain condition - none suitable ## Analysis THE FLIGHT STARTED FROM CHINO, CALIFORNIA, TO SANTA MARIA, CALIFORNIA. THE PILOTS REFUELED AT SANTA PAULA, CALIFORNIA, AND HAD OBTAINED A WEATHER BRIEFING FOR SANTA BARBARA AND SANTA MARIA. AT THE TIME OF THE BRIEFING, THEY WERE GIVEN THE 1350 HOURS SCHEDULED OBSERVATION. SANTA BARBARA WAS REPORTING 2,500 SCATTERED, AND MEASURED 4,700 OVERCAST. ABOUT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT AT 1615, SANTA BARBARA WAS REPORTING MEASURED 800 FEET OVERCAST, 2 MILES VISIBILITY, WITH LIGHT RAIN AND FOG. AT THE ACCIDENT SITE A HIGHWAY PATROL OFFICER REPORTED THE WEATHER WAS 700 OVERCAST, 1.5 MILES VISIBILITY, WITH MOUNTAIN TOPS OBSCURED AND LIGHT RAIN. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE EXPERIENCED CARBURETOR ICING AND LOST POWER. HE CRASH LANDED ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY MEDIAN. POSTACCIDENT EXAMINATION FOUND AN IMPROPER CARBURETOR HEAT CONTROL, BROKEN AIRBOX WITH MISSING HARDWARE, AND A COLLAPSED AIR INTAKE DUCT TO THE AIRBOX. ## Factual narrative On March 4, 1995, about 1615 hours Pacific standard time, a Boeing B75N1, N450SR, operated by the Stearman Flight Center of Chino, California, was substantially damaged during a forced landing near Gaviota, California. The forced landing was precipitated by a loss of engine power. The airplane was on a personal flight at the time of the accident and no flight plan was filed. There were no injuries to the ATP-rated pilot or his pilot rated passenger. The pilot reported that he had obtained a preflight weather briefing prior to departure. The flight was being conducted in visual meteorological conditions. The flight originated at Chino, California, on the day of the accident with a fuel stop at Santa Paula, California. The flight was destined for Santa Maria, California. The pilot stated that he suspected carburetor icing. The Santa Barbara airport is the nearest weather reporting facility and is located about 20 miles southeast of the accident site. At 1550, Santa Barbara was reporting a temperature of 59 degrees Fahrenheit with a dewpoint of 56 degrees Fahrenheit. While at Santa Paula, the pilots obtained a weather briefing from the Hawthorne Flight Service Station for Santa Barbara and Santa Maria, California. At the time of the briefing they were given the 1350 hour scheduled observation. Santa Barbara was reporting 2,500 scattered, and measured 4,700 overcast. About the time of the accident, the 1550 hour scheduled weather observation for Santa Barbara was reporting measured 800 feet overcast, 2 miles visibility, with light rain and fog. At the accident site a highway patrol officer reported the weather was 700 overcast, 1.5 miles visibility with mountain tops obscured. The pilot reported that he experienced carburetor icing and lost power. He crash-landed on a major highway median. Postaccident examination of the aircraft found an improper carburetor heat control with an unsecured housing, broken airbox with missing hardware (bolts), and a partially collapsed aluminum air intake duct to the airbox. In an attempt to determine the supplemental type certificate or field approval compliance for the carburetor control, records were obtained from FAA Oklahoma City. After several engine model changes, the last engine, a Pratt and Whitney R-985-14B, had been installed in the Sacramento, California, area. The modifier shop was no longer in business and the field approval information was not available. A mechanic who was familiar with the modification stated that the normal carburetor heat control had mechanical linkage, or an Ahrens control with a .090 core wire to move the cast aluminum airbox assembly. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N450SR](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N450SR), registered now, S/N 75-7016, built 1942 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BOEING B75N1 - Registry model: [Boeing B75N1](https://openairdocs.org/model/boeing-b75n1) (registry code 1380144) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney R-985 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-r-985-series) (registry code 52008, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 75-7016 - Airframe hours: 8753 - Engines: P&W R-985-14B 450 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Stearman Flight Center, doing business as Silver Wings Flight Team - Registered owner: Stearman Restorations, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Aerobatic - Last inspection: Annual, April 22, 1994, 125 hours before - Departed: SZP, SANTA PAULA, CA - Destination: SMR, SANTA MARIA, CA ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 61; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: rear; flight hours: 25,000 total, 2,000 in this make and model, 15,000 as pilot in command, 30 in the last 90 days, 15 in the last 30 days, 6 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 130° at 7 knots - Visibility: 2 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 800 ft overcast - Temperature: 59 °F, dew point 55 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: SBA, 22 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 19950304003049A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950304003049A), Mar 4, 1995: Boeing B75N1, Gaviota, CA, Substantial damage. Report carb ice. Lost power. Crashed hiway median. Defect carb heat control. Broken airbox. Collapsed intake duct. 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.