20140605008829A

Accident · Destroyed

FAA accident report · Cessna 172M · Laytonville, CA · June 5, 2014

Date: June 5, 2014 · 19:23 local
Place: Laytonville, CA
Phase of flight: Other, Specify
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Destroyed
Aircraft: N1186U
NTSB investigation: NTSBWPR14LA230
Reported as: Cessna 172M
Reported engine: Lycoming 0-320 series
People aboard: 1
Fatal injuries: 1
Other injuries: 0
Pilot’s certificate: Private pilot

N1186URegistration cancelled Oct 1, 2015 · Cessna 172MS/N 17266887 · Built 1976 Airframe modelCessna 172M Engine modelLycoming 0-320 seriesReciprocating

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry 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.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

N1186U, Cessna 172, enroute to private Laytonville airstrip (non-approved) at 07:23. Address: privacy data omitted. Visual flight rules (VFR).

Witness stated during approach to the side of the airstrip, aircraft dropped below tree line. Right wing struck the top of a tree and airman continued to fly for approximately 650 feet. At that time, the aircraft's right wing struck another tree.

A portion of aircraft's right wing was sheared by the impact causing the aircraft to crash in an adjacient creek bed (GPS coordinates 39 40.486' n by 123 38,920'W). Pilot sustained a fatal injury. Aircraft damage was substantial.

As the FAA filed it

N1186U, CESSNA 172, ENROUTE TO PRIVATE LAYTONVILLE AIRSTRIP (NON-APPROVED) AT 07:23. ADDRESS: ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^. VISUAL FLIGHT RULES (VFR).

WITNESS STATED DURING APPROACH TO THE SIDE OF THE AIRSTRIP, AIRCRAFT DROPPED BELOW TREE LINE. RIGHT WING STRUCK THE TOP OF A TREE AND AIRMAN CONTINUED TO FLY FOR APPROXIMATELY 650 FEET. AT THAT TIME, THE AIRCRAFT'S RIGHT WING STRUCK ANOTHER TREE.

A PORTION OF AIRCRAFT'S RIGHT WING WAS SHEARED BY THE IMPACT CAUSING THE AIRCRAFT TO CRASH IN AN ADJACIENT CREEK BED (GPS COORDINATES 39 40.486' N BY 123 38,920'W). PILOT SUSTAINED A FATAL INJURY. AIRCRAFT DAMAGE WAS SUBSTANTIAL.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB WPR14LA230Accident · 1 fatalLimited investigationFinal reportLaytonville, CAThe pilot’s impairment due to alcohol ingestion, which resulted in his failure to maintain clearance from trees during a low-altitude flyby.Jun 6, 2014 · Substantial damage