Pitts S2B and Bellanca 7GCBC mid-air collision near Ramona, California, January 10, 1989
On January 10, 1989 at about 10:45 pm local time, 2 aircraft, Pitts S2B (N5332G) and Bellanca 7GCBC (N87002), were involved in a mid-air collision near Ramona, California (Ramona airport). 2 people were seriously injured; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PITTS PILOT'S INADEQUATE VISUAL LOOKOUT. CONTRIBUTING FACTOR(S) WAS: INADEQUATE RADIO COMMUNICATIONS BY THE PITTS PILOT.
THE PITTS PILOT'S INADEQUATE VISUAL LOOKOUT. CONTRIBUTING FACTOR(S) WAS: INADEQUATE RADIO COMMUNICATIONS BY THE PITTS PILOT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 10, 1989 · about 10:45 pm local time · cases in 1989
- Place
- Ramona, California · Ramona · cases near this airport · map
- Type
- Accident · mid-air collision
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- Pitts S2B · all S2Bs on the register
- Registration
- N5332G · no longer on the register · serial 5059
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
- Aircraft 2
- Bellanca 7GCBC · all 7GCBCs on the register
- Registration
- N87002 · registry record · serial 700-74
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative for the Pitts S2B final · quoted from the NTSB record
BELLANCA PLT HEARD TO BROADCAST HIS POSITION ON FINAL APPROACH. PITTS PLT HEARD TO BROADCAST HIS POSITION ON DOWNWIND; NO OTHER TRANSMISSIONS HEARD. PITTS OVERTOOK & DESCENDED ONTO BELLANCA ON SHORT FINAL.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The NTSB's narrative for the Bellanca 7GCBC final · quoted from the NTSB record
BELLANCA PLT HEARD TO BROADCAST HIS POSITION ON FINAL APPROACH. PITTS PLT HEARD TO BROADCAST HIS POSITION ON DONWWIND; NO OTHER TRANSMISSION HEARD. PITTS OVERTOOK & DESCENDED ONTO BELLANCA ON SHORT FINAL.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record for the Pitts S2B from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 180 hours in all; 13 in this make and model; 25 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days; 160 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rear
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 224 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 31, 1988
- Maximum gross weight: 1,700 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540-D4A5 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27, 4,000 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
The factual record for the Bellanca 7GCBC from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 20,700 hours in all; 20,700 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rear
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 1,650 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27, 4,000 ft by 150 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N5332G: not on the register today · the record of its deregistration
- Pitts S-2 13 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Pitts 46 aircraft on the register
- N87002 on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Bellanca 7 Citabria 1,227 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Bellanca 2,699 aircraft on the register
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540-D4A5 239 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 27,304 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Leesville Airport · nearest airport
- Accidents and incidents in California 9,080 since 1982 · 1,094 in the last ten years
- California 28,286 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/LAX89FA083.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.