# Accident 19980517009749A: Cessna 172A, Van Nuys, CA, May 17, 1998

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: May 17, 1998, 16:00 local time
- Place: Van Nuys, CA
- Airport: Van Nuys Airport
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Ground Taxi, Other Airplane
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 34.1898° N, 118.4908° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.1898&lon=-118.4908&mi=10
- Aircraft: N7222T, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N7222T) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cessna 172A (registry code 2072404, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172a) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Continental 0-300 series (registry code 17022, https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-300-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172A
- Reported engine: CONT O300C
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 299 total, 68 in this make and model, 5 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB LAX98LA163](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX98LA163) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980517009749A

## Narrative

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

STRUCK PERIMETER FENCE TAXIING FOR TAKEOFF. DISORIENTED ENTERED A SERVICE ROAD. (.4)THE PILOT RECEIVED A GROUND CONTROL CLEARANCE TO TAXI FOR TAKEOFF FROM HIS TRANSIENT POSITION NEAR THE NORTHEAST SIDE OF THE AIRPORT TO THE BEGINNING OF RUNWAY 16L.  HE PROCEEDED SLOWLY IN A NORTHERLY DIRECTION AND BECAME SOMEWHAT CONFUSED REGARDING  THE ROUTE TO TAKE AS HE APPROACHED A BARRICADED AREA UNDER CONSTRUCTION.  ACCORDING TO THE PILOT, HE DECIDED TO USE A NORTHBOUND VEHICLE SERVICE ROAD (INSTEAD OF THE TAXIWAY) BECAUSE EARLIER, WITH HIS FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR, HE HAD USED ANOTHER SERVICE ROAD NEAR THE CONSTRUCTION AREA.  WHILE PROCEEDING ON THE ROAD HE DEVERTED HIS ATTENTION TOWARD THE ACTIVE RUNWAY, AND THE AIRPLANE'S RIGHT WING COLLIDED WITH A PERIMETER BOUNDARY FENCE POLE.  THE TAXIWAY MARKINGS IN THE VICINITY OF THE ACCIDENT SITE WERE SUBSEQUENTLY INSPECTED TO ASCERTAIN THIER DEGREE OF CONFORMITY WITH ADVISORY CIRCULAR 150/5340-1G, STANDARD FOR AIRPORT MARKINGS.  DEFICIENCIES WERE NOTED IN THE VICINITY OF THE BARRICADED DETOUR AREA WHERE THE PILOT REPORTED HE HAD PREVIOUSLY TAXIED.  THIS AREA WAS DEVOID OF A TAXIWAY CENTERLINE MARKING.  SEVERAL HUNDRED FEET NORTH OF THIS LOCATION, AT THE  INTERSECTION OF THE ACCIDENT SITE TAXIWAY AND THE VEHICLE SERVICE ROAD, THE MINIMUM FAA RECOMMENDED MARKINGS WERE PRESENT. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE AIRPORT'S MANAGEMENT PAINTED ADDITIONAL GROUND MARKINGS TO ENHANCE THE CONSPICUITY OF THE TAXIWAY/ACCESS ROAD INTERSECTION NEAR THE ACCIDENT SITE. (-23) THE AIRCRAFT TURNED ONTO AN ACCESS ROAD INSTEAD OF THE TAXIWAY RESULTING IN THE RIGHT WING STRIKING A FENCE. STRUCTURAL DAMAGE IS TO THE RIGHT WING SPAR FROM THE WINGTIP THROUGH TO THE WING ROOT. ALSO DAMAGED WAS THE PROP AND SPINNER. THE TAXIWAY IS UNDER CONSTRUCTION WITH PART OF THE ACCESS ROAD BEING USED AS A TAXIWAY, UNFORTUNATELY THERE WERE NO BARRICADES UP TO WARN OR PREVENT AN AIRCRAFT FROM TAXIING DOWN THE OTHER PART OF THE ACCESS ROAD.

## 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 LAX98LA163](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX98LA163), May 17, 1998: Cessna 172A (N7222T), Van Nuys, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain obstacle clearance due to his inadequate visual lookout and selection of the wrong taxi route. Contributing factors were the pilot's diverted attention while taxiing…

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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