Status:	Final
Date:	12 JAN 1995
Time:	17:47
Type:	Cessna 208B Super Cargomaster
Operating for:	West Air
Leased from:	Federal Express
Registration:	N754FE
C/n / msn:	208B-0249
First flight:	1991
Total airframe hrs:	2073
Engines:	1 Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-114A
Crew:	Fatalities: 1 / Occupants: 1
Passengers:	Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 0
Total:	Fatalities: 1 / Occupants: 1
Airplane damage:	Destroyed
Airplane fate:	Written off (damaged beyond repair)
Location:	Pleasanton, CA (United States of America)
Phase:	Approach (APR)
Nature:	Cargo
Departure airport:	Visalia Airport, CA (VIS/KVIS), United States of America
Destination airport:	Oakland International Airport, CA (OAK/KOAK), United States of America

Narrative:
The pilot reported to ATC he had the airport in sight from 7,000 feet msl more than 30 miles (48 km) away. A weather reporting station located 5 miles (8 km) east of the accident site was reporting two cloud layers; a scattered layer at 1,500 feet agl, and a broken layer at 5,000 feet agl. The airplane was descending after the pilot was cleared for a visual approach. The airplane collided with a tree and the ground in a wings level attitude at an elevation of 1,500 feet msl.

PROBABLE CAUSE: "Failure of the pilot-in-command to maintain visual contact with terrain and sufficient altitude for terrain clearance. Factors in the accident were the pilot's decision to initiate a descent 14 miles from the airport, and weather, specifically cloud conditions and darkness."

Events:

Sources:
» NTSB id LAX95FA077