# NTSB LAX99LA172: Beech A36, N6034X, San Diego, CA, May 6, 1999

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: May 5, 1999, 19:50 local (May 6, 1999, 02:50 UTC)
- Place: San Diego, CA
- Coordinates: 32.709774, -117.159675 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.7098&lon=-117.1597&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report January 18, 2001
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 46313
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX99LA172
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/46313/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX99LA172

## Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain a visual lookout while taxiing resulting in the aircraft's colliding with a runway sign.  Contributing factors were dusk light conditions, the sign, and the pilot's diverting his attention to aircraft instrumentation during taxi.

## Sequence of events

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

- On ground/water collision with object, taxi - from landing
  - light condition - dusk (contributing factor)
  - object - airport sign/marker (contributing factor)
  - visual lookout - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - diverted attention, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - clearance - not maintained, pilot in command

## Analysis

The pilot landed at dusk and made a 90-degree turn off the runway onto a taxiway.  Thereafter, while proceeding at less than 5 miles per hour, he again turned right, entered an oval area short of the desired taxiway, and collided with a runway sign.  The pilot indicated to responding officials that the collision occurred while he was looking at instruments.

## Factual narrative

On May 5, 1999, at 1950 hours Pacific daylight time, a Beech A36, N6034X, owned and operated by the pilot, collided with an airport sign after landing at the San Diego International Airport, San Diego, California.  The airplane was substantially damaged, and the commercial pilot was not injured.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time, and no flight plan was filed for the flight that was performed under 14 CFR Part 91.  The business flight originated from Riverside, California, about 1910.

Airport officials reported that after the pilot landed at dusk on runway 27, he made a 90-degree northbound turn at taxiway intersection C4.  Thereafter, while proceeding at less than 5 miles per hour, he again turned right, entered an oval area short of the desired taxiway, and collided with a runway sign.  The pilot indicated to responding officials that the collision occurred while he was looking at instruments.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N6034X](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N6034X), registered now, S/N E-1477, built 1979 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Beech A36
- Registry model: [Beech A36](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-a36) (registry code 1151604) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental IO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-series) (registry code 17032, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: E-1477
- Airframe hours: 4931
- Engines: Continental IO-520-BB 285 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Business, Part 91
- Registered owner: Ralph E. Garner
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, February 22, 1999, 56 hours before
- Departed: RAL, RIVERSIDE, CA
- Destination: SAN
- Airport: SAN, San Diego-Lindbergh Field, runway 27, 9,400 × 200 ft, concrete

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 79; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 7,682 total, 4,261 in this make and model, 7,420 as pilot in command, 202 in the last 90 days, 31 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dusk
- Wind: 270° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 61 °F, dew point 54 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: SAN

## 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 19990505004619A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990505004619A), May 5, 1999: Beech A36, Savannah, GA, Substantial damage. (.4)The pilot landed at dusk and made a 90-degree turn off the runway onto a taxiway. Thereafter, while proceeding at less than 5 miles per hour, he again…

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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