On February 6, 1990, a Beech 95-55 (registration N721L) operated by Chico Flight Center was involved in an aviation accident near Chico, CA. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: THE FAILURE OF THE PILOTS OF N790T AND N721L TO SEE AND AVOID EACH OTHER. FACTORS WHICH CONTRIBUTED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE PILOT OF THE C-182P, N790T, WAS DISORIENTED AND IMPROPERLY ENTERED THE TRAFFIC PATTERN DUE TO RECENT MARIJUANA USE; THE PILOT OF THE… This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
A Cessna 182P (N790T) and a Beechcraft BE-95 (N721L) collided about two miles north of the airport after deviations from the traffic pattern. Toxicology results indicated cannabinoids in the C-182P pilot's urine.
Incident Overview
A Cessna 182P, registered as N790T, and a Beechcraft BE-95, registered as N721L, collided approximately two nautical miles north of the airport. The collision occurred after the C-182P reported being on the east side of the field following an initial call 8.5 miles northwest for landing. The aircraft was cleared for a left downwind, but later the pilot stated he was coming in on the east side and was subsequently cleared for a right downwind, with an advisory about other aircraft in the right traffic pattern.
Traffic Pattern Operations
The BE-95 had just completed a touch-and-go landing and was turning onto the downwind leg. Controllers reported that the turn was a constant 30-degree bank with no roll-out on the crosswind leg. The two aircraft collided shortly thereafter. The Aeronautical Information Manual (AIM) recommends that for VFR traffic pattern operations, arriving aircraft should enter the pattern abeam the midpoint of the runway. The specifics of the aircraft's entry points relative to this recommendation were not detailed in the source.
Toxicology Findings
A toxicological examination of the pilot of the Cessna 182P (N790T) revealed a positive result for cannabinoids (marijuana) at a concentration of 0.098 mg/L in the urine sample. The source did not provide any further information regarding the pilot of the BE-95 or any other toxicology tests.