Zone
California

Crash of a Lockheed PV-2D Harpoon off Lakeport: 8 killed

Date & Time: Sep 29, 1990 at 1229 LT
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed P-2 Harpoon
Operator:
Douglas M. Lacey
Registration:
N7250C
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Demonstration
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Santa Rosa - Santa Rosa
MSN:
15-1605
YOM:
1945
Location:
Lakeport
California
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
7
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Captain / Total flying hours:
811
Circumstances:
The airplane was observed making several low passes, with its smoke generators operating, over seaplanes anchored in a lake. The last pass was reportedly at an altitude less than 50 feet, and then the airplane was observed entering an abnormally steep climb, followed by a near vertical nose-down attitude to impact. A video tape shows that both propellers were turning. The pilot had received his multi-engine rating in a Beech 76 on 3/6/90, and his type rating in the airplane 3/28/90.
Probable cause:
The pilot-in-command's failure to maintain airspeed during a pull-up from a low pass. Factors which contributed to the accident were: the pilot's poor judgement in buzzing the seaplanes which resulted in insufficient altitude to recover from the stall, and the pilot's inexperience in the airplane.
Final Report:

Crash of a Beechcraft A60 Duke in Santa Rosa: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jul 7, 1987 at 1028 LT
Type of aircraft:
Beechcraft 60 Duke
Operator:
John Gerlach
Registration:
N7485D
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Private
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Santa Rosa – South Lake Tahoe
MSN:
P-165
YOM:
1971
Location:
Santa Rosa
California
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Captain / Total flying hours:
5505
Circumstances:
The pilot and his wife planned a 30 minutes pleasure flight to Lake Tahoe. Prior to departure the pilot failed to visually inspect the amount of fuel in the right wing tank. The tank was full. The tank's cap probably appeared to be secured when, in fact, because of a unique design characteristic, it was merely resting on top of the filler neck. Upon takeoff rotation the cap came off the filler neck and it was followed by a fuel spray. The pilot responded and stayed in a very low altitude and close-in traffic pattern. He attempted to land immediately. He lost control during the turn to final, stalled and collided with the pavement prior to reaching the threshold. Both occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
The probable cause(s) of this accident to be the pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed on final approach which Resulted in the aircraft stalling.
Findings:
Occurrence #1: miscellaneous/other
Phase of operation: standing - pre-flight
Findings
1. (f) fuel system, cap - not secured
2. (f) aircraft preflight - inadequate - pilot in command
----------
Occurrence #2: loss of control - in flight
Phase of operation: approach - vfr pattern - final approach
Findings
3. (f) fluid, fuel - siphoning
4. (f) precautionary landing - attempted - pilot in command
5. (c) emergency procedure - improper - pilot in command
6. (c) airspeed (vso) - not maintained - pilot in command
7. (f) stall - inadvertent - pilot in command
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Occurrence #3: in flight collision with terrain/water
Phase of operation: descent - uncontrolled
Final Report:
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