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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

NTSB Reports is an independent research and search tool for public aviation accident and incident records. It brings NTSB aviation reports, structured fields, docket files, extracted figures, photos, videos, and update history into one searchable interface.

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NTSB Report

January 7, 1990 · Cessna 182P · N1283S

Napa, CA

Overview

Report Status
Probable Cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
January 7, 1990
Injury Outcomes
1 injury (1 fatality)
Location
Napa, CA
Aircraft
Cessna 182P
Tail Number
N1283S
Operator
Shieman David F
Injuries
Fatal
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
LAX90FA068

The aircraft collided with mountainous terrain while executing an instrument missed approach. The recorded radar data showed that the aircraft was about 4 miles past the missed approach point when the turn was initiated. The VOR RWY 6 approach has a 620 ft MDA and the missed approach point is defined as 3.8 DME on the Scaggs Island VOR 050 radial. The radar data showed the aircraft crossed over the airport descending through 1,800 ft MSL. The lowest altitude achieved by the aircraft was 900 ft MSL, which occurred just before the aircraft initiated the missed approach turn. The DME unit in the aircraft can function in both an internal frequency mode and a remote mode. In the remote mode, the DME provides information from the NAV radios. In the internal mode, the unit gives information based on the frequency set in the unit's internal memory. Examination of the DME revealed that the unit was in the internal mode and selected to the Concord VOR, not the Scaggs Island VOR.

NTSB Probable Cause

THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO PROPERLY EXECUTE THE PUBLISHED APPROACH AND MISSED APPROACH WHICH RESULTED IN A COLLISION WITH MOUNTAINIOUS TERRAIN.

Full Narrative

THE AIRCRAFT COLLIDED WITH MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN WHILE EXECUTING AN INSTRUMENT MISSED APPROACH. THE RECORDED RADAR DATA SHOWED THAT THE ACFT WAS ABOUT 4 MILES PAST THE MISSED APPROACH POINT WHEN THE TURN WAS INITIATED. THE VOR RWY 6 APPROACH HAS A 620 FT MDA AND THE MISSED APPROACH POINT IS DEFINED AS 3.8 DME ON THE SCAGGS ISLAND VOR 050 RADIAL. THE RADAR DATA SHOWED THE ACFT CROSSED OVER THE AIRPORT DESCENDING THROUGH 1,800 FT MSL. THE LOWEST ALT ACHIEVED BY THE ACFT WAS 900 FT MSL, WHICH OCCURRED JUST BEFORE THE ACFT INITIATED THE MISSED APPROACH TURN. THE DME UNIT IN THE AIRCRAFT CAN FUNCTION IN BOTH AN INTERNAL FREQ MODE AND A REMOTE MODE. IN THE REMOTE MODE THE DME PROVIDES INFO FROM THE NAV RADIOS. IN THE INTERNAL MODE, THE UNIT GIVES INFO BASED ON THE FREQ SET IN THE UNITS INTERNAL MEMORY. EXAM OF THE DME REVEALED THAT THE UNIT WAS IN THE INTERNAL MODE AND SELECTED TO THE CONCORD VOR, NOT THE SCAGGS ISLAND VOR.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time15:17 PST
Nearest AirportNapa Co. (0nm N)
Runway6
Runway Length5007 ft
Runway Width150 ft
Flight Plan FiledIFR
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftCessna 182P
Tail NumberN1283S
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
OperatorShieman David F
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsContinental · O-470S · Reciprocating · 230
Seats4

People & Injuries

Injury Summary1 injury (1 fatality)
Fatal1
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total1
Crew 1Age 60 · Third Class

Conditions

ConditionsIMC
LightDaylight
Wind180° @ 10 kt
Visibility2 sm
CeilingOvercast 800 ft
Temperature / Dew Point0 C / 0 C
Altimeter30.00 inHg
Observation Time23:25
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data