# Accident 19971125042741A: Cessna 172M, El Cajon, CA, November 25, 1997

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: November 25, 1997, 11:32 local time
- Place: El Cajon, CA
- Airport: Gillespie Field Airport
- Damage: Destroyed
- Collision: Midair collision, first aircraft
- Phase of flight: In Traffic Pattern-Circling
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 32.7908° N, 116.9592° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.7908&lon=-116.9592&mi=10
- Aircraft: N9518H, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9518H-1999-04-19) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cessna 172M (registry code 2072418, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172m) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172M
- Reported engine: LYC O320E2D
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 1
- Pilot flight hours: 12 total, 12 in this make and model, 12 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB LAX98FA045](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX98FA045) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19971125042741A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

9518H, WHILE MAKING A NON-STANDARD DEPARTURE, COLLIDED WITH 757FT THAT WAS DOWNWIND IN PATTERN. (.4)THE SOLO STUDENT PILOT WAS CLEARED TO TAKEOFF WITH INSTRUCTIONS TO FOLLOW THE CESSNA AHEAD.  A THRID AIRCRAFT WAS ALSO IN THE TRAFFIC PATTERN AT THE TIME.  AFTER TAKEOFF, THE CONTROLLER LOOKED AWAY TO CHECK ON OTHER TRAFFIC BUT WHEN HE LOOKED BACK, NEITHER AIRCRAFT WAS VISIBLE.  HE MADE SEVERAL UNSUCCESSFUL CALLS TO BOTH THE PILOTS.  THE DUAL STUDENT REPORTED THAT HE HAD TURNED CROSSWIND AS HE CAME ABEAM OF HIS TRAFFIC.  WHEN HE REACHED PATTERN ALTITUDE, HE BEGAN HIS DOWNWIND TURN.  HE WAS TRIMMING THE AIRCRAFT WHEN HE SAW THE SOLO STUDENT APPROACHING HIS POSITION.  HE BANKED HARD TO AVOID THE AIRCRAFT, BUT FELT AN IMPACT.  WITNESSES REPORTED THAT BOTH AIRCRAFT WERE ON A CONVERGING FLIGHT PATH.  THE STUDENT PILOT WAS MAKING HIS SECOND SOLO FLIGHT BUT HAD NOT ADVISED THE CONTROLLER. THE CONTROLLER DID NOT SPECIFY THAT HE WAS NUMBER 3 IN THE PATTERN.  HAZE WAS REPORTED IN ALL QUADRANTS.  THE BRITE IN THE TOWER CAB IS NOT CAPABLE OF MONITORING TRAFFIC ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF THE AIRPORT DUE TO TERRAIN HEIGHT.

## Other aircraft in the event

- N757FT, Cessna 152: [Accident 19971125042742A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19971125042742A)

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB LAX98FA045](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX98FA045), Nov 25, 1997: Cessna 172M (N9518H), El Cajon, CA, destroyed, 1 fatal. Probable cause: The solo student's failure to see and follow the other aircraft on the downwind as he had been instructed. Factors influencing this accident was the failure of the pilots in the other aircraft to see…

## Other reports on N9518H (3)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Accident 19840602022019A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19840602022019A), Jun 2, 1984: Cessna 172M (N9518H), San Fernando, CA, Substantial damage. Pilot made hard landing and bounced causing nose wheel to collapse.
- [Incident 19781211024749I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19781211024749I), Dec 11, 1978: Cessna 172 (N9518H), Buckeye, AZ, Minor damage. Pilot landed at an unfamiliar airport for fuel. Exited the taxiway into a drainage ditch.
- [Accident 19760415008159A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19760415008159A), Apr 15, 1976: Cessna 172D (N9518H), Oxnard, CA, Substantial damage. Wea brief by ctl twr. Gusting to 50K.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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