Cessna 208B accident near Pleasanton, CA

On January 13, 1995, a Cessna 208B (airplane) was involved in an accident near Pleasanton, CA. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.

Date

January 13, 1995

Place

Pleasanton, CA

Aircraft

Cessna 208B · Airplane

Injuries

1 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor

Damage

Destroyed

Position

37.650°N, 121.850°W

NTSB ID

20001207X02874

Official records · LAX95FA077

• Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation

Air traffic control records

• Transcript of Radio Communications: Transcript (PDF), on ntsb.gov
• Reports of Service from ATC: Document (PDF), on ntsb.gov

NTSB summary

On January 12, 1995, at 1747 hours Pacific standard time, a Cessna 208B, N754FE, collided with terrain 4 miles west of Pleasanton, California, while approaching the Metropolitan Oakland International Airport (OAK), Oakland, California. The airplane was destroyed. The airline transport pilot received fatal injuries. The airplane was operated by West Air, Inc., Fresno, California, as a on-demand air cargo flight under 14 CFR Part 135. The flight originated in Visalia, California, at 1638 hours. Night visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and an IFR flight plan was filed. At 1738 hours, the pilot contacted Bay Approach Control, reported the airplane's altitude of 7,000 feet, and requested runway 27. The Bay Approach radar sector controller informed the pilot the VOR 9R approach was in use at the time; he could get a visual approach once the airport was in sight; and to fly a 300-degree heading and maintain 7,000 feet. According to the transcript of communications, 12 seconds later the pilot indicated he had the airport in sight. According to radar data, the airplane was more than 30 miles from the airport at the time of the pilot's radio transmission. At 1745 hours, the pilot was cleared for a visual approach to runway 27 at Oakland, and was instructed to stay north of the localizer approach course. At 1747 hours, the sector controller requested the pilot maintain "maximum speed on approach," and the pilot acknowledged. This was the last recorded radio transmission from the pilot. Radar and radio contact was lost with the airplane at a position 14 miles east o

Probable cause

failure of the pilot-in-command to maintain visual contact with terrain and sufficient altitude for terrain clearance. Factors in the accident were the pilot's decision to initiate a descent 14 miles from the airport, and weather, specifically cloud conditions and darkness.

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Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.