Cessna 172M accident near Goleta, California, October 22, 1990
On October 22, 1990 at about 1:02 am local time, a Cessna 172M, registered N13670, was destroyed in an accident near Goleta, California (Santa Barbara airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed and 3 people were seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN PROPER GLIDEPATH WHILE ON FINAL APPROACH. A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR WAS SUNGLARE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 22, 1990 · about 1:02 am local time
- Place
- Goleta, California · Santa Barbara · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed and 3 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172M · all 172Ms on the register
- Registration
- N13670 · no longer on the register · serial 62929
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT WAS INSTRUCTED TO ENTER A LEFT BASE LEG IN THE TRAFFIC PATTERN TO LAND ON RWY 25, FOR THE PURPOSE OF MAINTAINING SEPARATION FROM OTHER LANDING TRAFFIC. THE AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLER ADDITIONALLY INSTRUCTED THE PLT TO MAKE THE BASE LEG SQUARE. REVIEW OF THE AIRPLANE'S FLIGHT PATH AS DEPICTED BY FAA DRAWINGS ILLUSTRATED AN APPROACH PATTERN SIMILAR TO A LONG FINAL APPROACH. WITNESSES ON THE GROUND ABOUT 1 1/2 MILES FROM THE AIRPORT ON THE RWY 25 EXTENDED CENTERLINE STATED THAT THE AIRPLANE OVERFLEW THEIR HOMES AT A LOW ALTITUDE. THERE WERE NO REPORTS OF UNUSUAL ENGINE NOISES. AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLERS OBSERVED THE AIRPLANE IN A RAPID DESCENT IMMEDIATELY BEFORE THE ACCIDENT. THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF MECHANICAL FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION WITH THE AIRPLANE BEFORE THE ACCIDENT. THE AZIMUTH AND ANGLE ABOVE THE HORIZON OF THE SUN WAS 241.1 DEG AND 2.8 DEG. RESPECTIVELY.
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 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 118 hours in all; 40 in this make and model; 19 in the last 90 days; 12 in the last 30 days; 64 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,758 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 10, 1990; 22 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2D (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Mercury Air Center
The flight
- Departed from: SZP Santa Paula CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 25, 6,049 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Wind: from 240° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:02 am from SBA, 7 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 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.
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 never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.