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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

September 14, 1987 · Mooney M20J · N3551H

Dublin, CA

Overview

Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
September 14, 1987
Injury Outcomes
1 injury (1 fatality)
Location
Dublin, CA
Aircraft
Mooney M20J
Tail Number
N3551H
Operator
Cal Pacific Associates
Injuries
Fatal
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
LAX87FA335

THE PILOT HAD FLOWN 5.6 HOURS DURING THE DAY, STARTING THE FIRST FLIGHT ABOUT 0600. ATC CONTROLLERS STATED THAT THE PILOT DID NOT FOLLOW THE CLEARANCE ISSUED TO HIM. THE CONTROLLERS THEN ISSUED RADAR VECTORS. THE INSTRUCTOR THE PILOT FLEW WITH EARLIER IN THE DAY STATED THAT HE HAD SUGGESTED TO THE PILOT THAT HE SPEND THE NIGHT AT THE DEPARTURE AIRPORT BUT THE PILOT DECIDED TO DEPART. DURING THE FLIGHT THE PILOT REPORTED TO ATC THAT HE WAS TIRED AND WASN'T DOING TOO WELL. THE CONTROLLER STATED LATER THAT THE PILOT HAD TROUBLE FOLLOWING THE VECTORS GIVEN TO HIM. SHORTLY AFTER THE PILOTACKNOWLEDGED CLEARANCE FOR THE ILS THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED THE TERRAIN HEADING 180 DEGREES AWAY FROM THE INBOUND LOC COURSE. THE PILOT'S LOGBOOK SHOWED ONLY 8 HOURS OF ACTUAL INSTRUMENT TIME.

Full Narrative

THE PILOT HAD FLOWN 5.6 HOURS DURING THE DAY, STARTING THE FIRST FLIGHT ABOUT 0600. ATC CONTROLLERS STATED THAT THE PILOT DID NOT FOLLOW THE CLEARANCE ISSUED TO HIM. THE CONTROLLERS THEN ISSUED RADAR VECTORS. THE INSTRUCTOR THE PILOT FLEW WITH EARLIER IN THE DAY STATED THAT HE HAD SUGGESTED TO THE PILOT THAT HE SPEND THE NIGHT AT THE DEPARTURE AIRPORT BUT THE PILOT DECIDED TO DEPART. DURING THE FLIGHT THE PILOT REPORTED TO ATC THAT HE WAS TIRED AND WASN'T DOING TOO WELL. THE CONTROLLER STATED LATER THAT THE PILOT HAD TROUBLE FOLLOWING THE VECTORS GIVEN TO HIM. SHORTLY AFTER THE PILOTACKNOWLEDGED CLEARANCE FOR THE ILS THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED THE TERRAIN HEADING 180 DEGREES AWAY FROM THE INBOUND LOC COURSE. THE PILOT'S LOGBOOK SHOWED ONLY 8 HOURS OF ACTUAL INSTRUMENT TIME.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time21:29 PDT
Nearest AirportOAKLAND (0nm N)
Runway27R
Runway Length5453 ft
Runway Width150 ft
Flight Plan FiledIFR
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftMooney M20J
Tail NumberN3551H
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
OperatorCal Pacific Associates
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · IO-360-A3B6D · Reciprocating · 200
Seats4

People & Injuries

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

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDark Night
Wind250° @ 11 kt
Visibility10 sm
CeilingOvercast 1500 ft
Temperature / Dew Point59 / 54
Altimeter30.00 inHg
Observation Time04:45
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data