N740WJCessna 340A · 1979

On August 18, 2022, about 1455 Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 152, N49931, and a Cessna 340, N740WJ, were destroyed when they were involved in a midair collision near Watsonville, California. The pilot of N49931 and the pilot and passenger of N740WJ were fatally injured. Both airplanes were operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flights.

The pilot of the Cessna 152 was performing takeoffs and landings in the traffic pattern at Watsonville Municipal Airport (WVI). The WVI CTAF was recorded, and review of the recordings revealed that the pilot had been making position reports for most of the traffic pattern legs during his previous four traffic patterns.

The Cessna 340 pilot made his initial position report ten miles east of the airport at 4,500 ft feet mean sea level (msl), and reported that he would be descending for a straight-in approach to runway 20. Less than one minute later, the Cessna 152 pilot reported that he was crosswind for runway 20, and less than a minute after that call, he reported downwind for runway 20. The Cessna 340 pilot then reported that he was three miles from runway 20 on a straight-in approach. The Cessna 152 pilot then reported that he was turning left base for runway 20. About 19 seconds later, the Cessna 340 pilot reported that he was one mile from the airport and that he was looking for the traffic on left base. The Cessna 152 pilot stated that he did see the Cessna 340 and that the Cessna 340 was behind him. About 13 seconds later, the Cessna 152 pilot stated that he was, “going around, because you are coming at me pretty quick man.”

Recorded automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast (ADS-B) data provided by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) revealed that the Cessna 340 departed Turlock Airport (O15), Turlock, California, and proceeded west toward runway 20 at WVI. The Cessna 340 maintained about 180 knots ground speed until the collision. The data showed that the airplanes’ flight paths intersected about 1455:13, at an altitude about 225 to 300 ft msl, or about 150 ft agl, as seen in Figure 1.

Figure 1. View of the two airplanes’ ADS-B flight track data.

A witness stated that he was flying over WVI at 1,300 ft msl when he heard the two pilots on the CTAF and realized that they were getting close to each other. He focused his attention on the final approach for runway 20 and observed the Cessna 340 moving much quicker than usual for landing. He saw the Cessna 152 turn final and heard the pilot call a go around. He then saw the Cessna 340 try to turn right and its wing hit the wing of the Cessna 152. He subsequently saw both airplanes descend to the ground.

A witness on the ground at WVI captured an image of the two airplanes before the collision, as seen in Figure 2.

Figure 2. Image captured before the collision.

Information provided by the FAA indicated that the pilot of the Cessna 340 received visual flight rules flight following services from O15 to WVI. When services were terminated, the pilot was advised to use caution due to other aircraft in the traffic pattern at WVI. The pilot of the Cessna 152 was not in communication with air traffic control.

The Cessna 152 came to rest on the airport property about 1,200 ft northeast of the approach end of runway 20. The left wing, from about the strut outboard, separated from the airplane and came to rest about 500 ft northeast of the main wreckage. The left horizontal stabilizer and elevator separated and came to rest about 380 ft northeast of the main wreckage. Two small sections of the Cessna 340’s left tip tank were located near the Cessna 152 wreckage.

The Cessna 340 came to rest in a hangar storage room located on the southeast side of the airport. All major components of the Cessna 340 were located at the site. A postimpact fire ensued outside of the hangar. Examination of the wreckage revealed that the flap handle was in the up position, and that the landing gear were retracted.

The Aeronautical Information Manual stated in part,

4-3-3 Traffic Patterns. NOTE- Pilots are encouraged to use the standard traffic pattern. However, those pilots who choose to execute a straight-in approach, maneuvering for and execution of the approach should not disrupt the flow of arriving and departing traffic. Likewise, pilots operating in the traffic pattern should be alert at all times for aircraft executing straight-in approaches.

FAA Advisory Circular (AC) 90-66B, “Non-Towered Airport Flight Operations,” stated in part,

The FAA does not regulate traffic pattern entry, only traffic pattern flow.

Traffic pattern entry information is advisory…

Collision avoidance. The pilot in command’s (PIC) primary responsibility is to see and avoid other aircraft and the help then see and avoid his or her aircraft.” “The FAA encourages pilots to use the standard traffic pattern when arriving or departing a non-towered airport or a part-time-towered airport when the control tower is not operating, particularly when other traffic is observed or when operating from an unfamiliar airport. However, there may are occasions where a pilot can choose to execute a straight-in approach for landing when not intending to enter the traffic pattern, such as a visual approach executed as part of the termination of an instrument approach. Pilots should clearly communicate on the CTAF and coordinate maneuvering for and execution of the landing with other traffic so as not to disrupt the flow of other aircraft. Therefore, pilots operating in the traffic pattern should be alert at all times to aircraft executing straight-in landings, particularly when flying base leg prior to turning final.

The FAA Pilot’s Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge stated in part,

In either case, it is vital to announce your intentions, and remember to scan outside. Before joining the downwind leg, adjust your course or speed to blend into the traffic. Adjust power on the downwind leg, or sooner, to fit into the flow of traffic. Avoid flying too fast or too slow. Speeds recommended by the airplane manufacturer should be used. They will generally fall between 70 to 80 knots for fixed-gear singles and 80 to 90 knots for high-performance retractable.

Cessna 152 Pilot

Toxicology testing performed for the county coroner on the pilot’s chest cavity blood detected the primary major psychoactive compound of cannabis, delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), at 1.1 nanograms per milliliter (ng/mL) and THC’s inactive metabolite, carboxy-delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC-COOH), at 8.4 ng/mL.

Toxicology testing performed by the FAA Forensic Sciences Laboratory detected THC in the pilot’s cavity blood at 1.1 ng/mL, THC-COOH in his cavity blood at 10.6 ng/mL, and THC-COOH in his urine at 139.7 ng/mL. Benzoylecgonine, an inactive cocaine metabolite, was detected in his cavity blood and in his urine at 438 ng/mL. Ecgonine methyl ester, a minor inactive metabolite of cocaine, was detected in the pilot’s urine. The anesthetic ketamine was detected in his cavity blood and in his urine at 34 ng/mL. The active metabolite of ketamine, norketamine, was detected in his cavity blood at 25 ng/mL and in his urine at 208 ng/mL. The non-sedating pain and fever reducing over-the-counter medication salicylic acid, commonly known as aspirin, was detected in the pilot’s cavity blood and urine.

Cessna 340 Pilot

Toxicology testing performed for the county coroner was negative for ethanol and tested-for drugs in the pilot’s abdominal blood. Toxicology testing performed by the FAA Forensic Sciences Laboratory detected THC in the pilot’s cavity blood at 0.8 ng/mL. THC’s short-lived psychoactive metabolite, 11-hydroxy-delta-9-THC (11-OH-THC) was detected in his urine at 5.9 ng/mL, but not in his blood. THC-COOH was detected in his cavity blood at 1 ng/mL and in his urine at 36.3 ng/mL. The high blood pressure medication atenolol and the enlarged prostate treatment medication tamsulosin were detected in his cavity blood and urine. Desloratadine, the metabolite of the non-impairing antihistamine loratadine, was detected in his cavity blood but inconclusive in his urine. Atenolol, tamsulosin, and desloratadine are generally considered non-impairing.