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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

November 9, 1989 · Cessna R182 · N2257T

San Diego, CA

Overview

Report Status
Probable Cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
November 9, 1989
Injury Outcomes
4 injuries (2 fatalities, 2 serious injuries)
Location
San Diego, CA
Aircraft
Cessna R182
Tail Number
N2257T
Operator
Robie E Ratliff
Injuries
Fatal
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
LAX90FA027

The pilot attempted a night special VFR approach to the airport when he was not night current. He did not hold an instrument rating. The pilot obtained three weather reports for the airport, while en route. These established that conditions were IFR with visibilities less than 2 miles in fog. The pilot accepted the special VFR clearance and reported inbound to the airport from the north. Shortly thereafter, he reported over a prison, which was 4 miles northeast of the airport. The prisoners said the aircraft orbited one of the guard towers two or three times, then departed to the northwest. The official visibility reported by the ATCT was one mile in fog; witnesses at the prison stated the ground visibility was less than a mile with areas of heavy fog. The aircraft collided with the ground in a descent measured at 11 degrees with a right wing down about 20 degrees. No preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures were identified during examination of the wreckage.

NTSB Probable Cause

THE PILOT'S CONTINUED VFR FLIGHT INTO INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS (IMC), AND HIS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN AIRCRAFT CONTROL AFTER BECOMING SPATIALLY DISORIENTED. FACTORS IN THE ACIDENT WERE: DARKNESS, ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS, AND THE PILOT'S LACK OF INSTRUMENT EXPERIENCE.

Full Narrative

THE PILOT ATTEMPTED A NIGHT SPECIAL VFR APPROACH TO THE AIRPORT WHEN HE WAS NOT NIGHT CURRENT. HE DID NOT HOLD AN INSTRUMENT RATING. THE PILOT OBTAINED THREE WEATHER REPORTS FOR THE AIRPORT, WHILE EN ROUTE. THESE ESTABLISHED THAT CONDITIONS WERE IFR WITH VISIBILITIES LESS THAN 2 MILES IN FOG. THE PILOT ACCEPTED THE SPECIAL VFR CLEARANCE AND REPORTED INBOUND TO THE AIRPORT FROM THE NORTH. SHORTLY THEREAFTER, HE REPORTED OVER A PRISON, WHICH WAS 4 MILES NORTH EAST OF THE AIRPORT. THE PRISONERS SAID THE AIRCRAFT ORBITED ONE OF THE GUARD TOWERS TWO OR THREE TIMES, THEN DEPARTED TO THE NORTH WEST. THE OFFICIAL VISIBILITY REPORTED BY THE ATCT WAS ONE MILE IN FOG; WITNESSES AT THE PRISON STATED THE GROUND VISIBILITY WAS LESS THAN A MILE WITH AREAS OF HEAVY FOG. THE AIRCRAFT COLLIDED WITH THE GROUND IN A DESCENT MEASURED AT 11 DEGREES WITH A RIGHT WING DOWN ABOUT 20 DEGREES. NO PREIMPACT MECHANICAL MALFUNCTIONS OR FAILURES WERE IDENTIFIED DURING EXAMINATION OF THE WRECKAGE.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time19:05 PST
Nearest Airport0nm N
Runway0R
Runway Length0
Runway Width0
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftCessna R182
Tail NumberN2257T
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
OperatorRobie E Ratliff
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · O-540-J3C5D · Reciprocating · 230
Seats4

People & Injuries

Injury Summary4 injuries (2 fatalities, 2 serious injuries)
Fatal2
Serious2
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total4
Crew 1Age 54 · Third Class

Conditions

ConditionsIMC
LightBright Night
WindCalm
Visibility1 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point59 / 57
Altimeter30.00 inHg
Observation Time02:55
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data