Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Sylmar, California 91342
Monday, February 7, 2000 9:50 PST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

At 0948:48, a homebuilt Questair Venture called the Van Nuys airport control tower for landing 'north of San Fernando Reservoir with Romeo.' San Fernando Reservoir is an official reporting point. North of the reservoir is considered Newhall Pass. According to radar data, the approach groundspeed was averaging 217 knots/250 mph. The pilot was cleared for a straight in approach to runway 16R and squawk 0237. The tower's D-Brite radar received one Mode C hit on the assigned code. The Questair collided with a pipeline patrol Citabria, which was maneuvering over a crude oil underground pipeline with surface construction in progress. The Citabria was being provided VFR flight advisory services and had previously been assigned a discreet code and given other traffic. The collision occurred about 6.3 miles from the approach end of runway 16R on the extended runway/localizer centerline. The Questair was on frequency about 22 seconds from initial call to collision. Both aircraft were operating in class 'E' airspace.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilots' inadequate visual lookout in visual conditions and class 'E' airspace. Contributing to the accident were the initial position report location and the approach speed of the Questair.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 2/7/2000
Event Day of the Week Monday
Time of Event 950
Event Time Zone Pacific Standard Time
Event City SYLMAR
Event State CALIFORNIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 91342
Event Date Year 2000
Event Date Month 2
MidAir Collision Indicator Yes
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude --
Event Location Longitude --
Event Location Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 951 Pacific Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 160
Weather Observation Facility ID VNY
Elevation of weather observation facility 799
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 6
Time Zone of the weather observation PST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 25000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 19
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 4
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 0
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Fatal
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal 4
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 4
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 786
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Feb 7 2000 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1000
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record May 11 2001 4:05AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft #2

Aircraft Registration Number N869DG N86801
NTSB Number LAX00FA093A LAX00FA093B
Missing Aircraft Indicator N N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None Company VFR
Flight plan Was Activated? -- --
Damage Destroyed Destroyed
Aircraft Fire None Ground
Aircraft Explosion None None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name GRAY Bellanca
Aircraft Model QUESTAIR VENTURE 8GCBC
Aircraft Series Identifier QUESTAIR V 8GCBC
Aircraft Serial Number 33 20-74
Certified Max Gross Weight 2000 1650
Aircraft Category Airplane Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? Yes No
Flight Crew Seats -- --
Cabin Crew Seats -- --
Passenger Seats -- --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 2 2
Number of Engines 1 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual Unknown
Date of Last Inspection Jan 15 2000 12:00AM --
Airframe hours since last inspection -- --
Airframe Hours -- --
ELT Installed Unknown Yes
ELT Activated Unknown No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown Unknown
ELT Type -- --
Aircraft Owner Name CHARLES D. OLIVER TEQ CORPORATION
Aircraft Owner Street Address 4739 DEEP ROAD LOOP NE 34357 MERCED AVE.
Aircraft Owner City SALEM BAKERSFIELD
Aircraft Owner State OR CA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 97305 93308
Operator is an individual? -- --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As -- --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes Yes
Operator Street Address
Operator City
Operator State
Operator Country
Operator Zip code
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown Unknown
Operator Certificate Number -- --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not -- --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight -- --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail -- --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal Aerial Observation
Second Pilot on Board Yes Yes
Departure Point Same as Event No No
Departure Airport Code POC BFL
Departure City LA VERNE BAKERSFIELD
Departure State CA CA
Departure Country
Departure Time 935 0
Departure Time Zone PST
Destination Same as Local Flt -- --
Destination Airport Code VNY BFL
Destination City VAN NUYS BAKERSFIELD
Destination State CA CA
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight -- --
Report sent to ICAO? -- --
Evacuation occurred -- --
Date of most recent change to record May 11 2001 4:05AM May 11 2001 4:05AM
User who most recently changed record dbo dbo
Since inspection or accident -- --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0 0
Runway Length -- --
Runway Width -- --
Sight Seeing flight No No
Air Medical Flight No No
Medical Flight -- --