# Accident 19971125042742A: Cessna 152, 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, second 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: N757FT, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N757FT-2013-07-08) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cessna 152 (registry code 2071835, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-152) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming 0-235 series (registry code 41505, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-235-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 152
- Reported engine: LYC O235L2C
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 898 total
- 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/19971125042742A

## Narrative

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

757FT WAS DOWNWIND IN A CLOSED PATTERN, COLLIDED WITH 9518H WHO WAS ATTEMPTING A NON-STANDARD DEPARTURE. (.4)THE SOLO STUDENT PILOT WAS CLEARED TO TAKEOFF WITH INSTRUCTIONS TO FOLLOW THE CESSNA AHEAD.  A THIRD 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

- N9518H, Cessna 172M: [Accident 19971125042741A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19971125042741A)

## 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 152 (N757FT), 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 N757FT (1)

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

- [Incident 19860227016249I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19860227016249I), Feb 27, 1986: Cessna 152 (N757FT), Las Vegas, NV. Descended to less than 1000 feet above congested area after being cleared for unrestricted descent.

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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