# NTSB CHI92FA201: Cessna 172N, N6376F, St Paul, MN, July 7, 1992 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report - Date: July 7, 1992, 16:48 local (21:48 UTC) - Place: St Paul, MN - Coordinates: 44.950984, -93.089927 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.9510&lon=-93.0899&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 4 fatal - Status: Completed, report May 28, 1993 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 15297 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI92FA201 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/15297/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI92FA201 ## Probable cause (aircraft 2) INADEQUATE VISUAL LOOKOUT BY THE PILOTS OF BOTH AIRPLANES, WHICH RESULTED IN THEIR FAILURE TO SEE-AND-AVOID CONFLICTING TRAFFIC, AND FAILURE OF THE RELIEVING CONTROLLERS TO USE THE RADAR DISPLAY TO IDENTIFY AND SEQUENCE AN AIRPLANE ENTERING THE PATTERN. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: AN INADEQUATE BRIEFING BY THE OFF-GOING CONTROLLER, AND INACCURATE POSITION REPORTS BY THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND OF N5279R. ## Probable cause (aircraft 1) INADEQUATE VISUAL LOOKOUT BY THE PLOTS OF BOTH AIRPLANES, WHICH RESULTED IN THEIR FAILURE TO SEE-AND-AVOID CONFLICTING TRAFFIC, AND FAILURE OF THE RELIEVING CONTROLLERS TO USE THE RADAR DISPLAY TO IDENTIFY AND SEQUENCE AN AIRPLANE ENTERING THE PATTERN. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: AN INADEQUATE BRIEFING BY THE OFF-GOING CONTROLLER, AND INACCURATE POSITION REPORTS BY THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND OF N5279R. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Midair collision, approach - vfr pattern - final approach - crew/group briefing - inadequate, atc personnel(lcl/gnd/clnc) (contributing factor) - weather condition - haze/smoke - identification of aircraft visually - not obtained, atc personnel(lcl/gnd/clnc) - radio communications - inaccurate, pilot of other aircraft (contributing factor) - identification of aircraft on radar - not performed, atc personnel(lcl/gnd/clnc) (cause) - visual lookout - inadequate, pilot in command(cfi) (cause) - visual lookout - inadequate, dual student (cause) - visual lookout - inadequate, pilot of other aircraft (cause) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled - Midair collision, approach - vfr pattern - base leg/base to final - crew/group briefing - inadequate, atc personnel(lcl/gnd/clnc) (contributing factor) - weather condition - haze/smoke - identification of aircraft visually - not obtained, atc personnel(lcl/gnd/clnc) - radio communications - inaccurate, pilot in command (contributing factor) - identification of aircraft on radar - not performed, atc personnel(lcl/gnd/clnc) (cause) - visual lookout - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - visual lookout - inadequate, pilot of other aircraft (cause) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled ## Analysis (aircraft 2) A STUDENT & AN INSTRUCTOR (CFI) IN CESSNA 172, N6376F (76F), WERE PRACTICING TOUCH-&-GO LNDGS AS CESSNA 172, N5279R (79R), WAS ARRIVING (TRANSPORTING BLOOD FOR THE RED CROSS). AT 1640 CDT, 79R RPRTD 7 MI SE FOR LNDG. THE TWR CTLR SAW A TARGET IN THAT VCNTY (USING D-BRITE RADAR); HE TOLD 79R TO ENTER A LEFT DWNWND FOR RWY 12 & RPRT 2 MI SE. HE WAS RELIEVED AT 1643 BY A DEVELOPMENTAL CTLR (DC) & A FULL PERFORMANCE CTLR (FPC). HE BRIEFED THEM ON PSNS OF ACFT IN THE PATTERN & TOLD THEM 79R (STILL OUT OF SIGHT) WAS INBOUND FM THE SE, BUT HE DIDN'T SHOW THEM ITS PSN ON RADAR DRG THE BRIEFING. AT 1644:55, 79R MADE A CALL, SAYING THE ACFT WAS 'PRACTICALLY STRAIGHT EAST OF THE AIRPORT.' 79R NEVER RPRTD ON DWNWND, ALTHO TOLD AGAIN TO DO SO. THE CTLRS WERE WORKING SVRL ACFT; THEY NEITHER SIGHTED 79R, NOR USED RADAR TO FIND IT. AT 1647:06, 79R CALLED TURNING BASE FOR RWY 12. AT THAT TIME, 79R WAS TRACKING INSIDE THE FLT PATH OF 76F, AS 76F WAS IN A LEFT TURN TO FINAL APCH FOR RWY 14. ABT 25 SEC LTR, THE 2 CONVERGED, COLLIDED, THEN CRASHED TO THE GND. ## Analysis (aircraft 1) A STUDENT & AN INSTRUCTOR (CFI) IN CESSNA 172, N6376F (76F), WERE PRACTICING TOUCH-&-GO LNDGS AS CESSNA 172, N5279R (79R), WAS ARRIVING (TRANSPORTING BLOOD FOR THE RED CROSS). AT 1640 CDT, 79R RPRTD 7 MI SE FOR LNDG. THE TWR CTLR SAW A TARGET IN THAT VCNTY (USING D-BRITE RADAR); HE TOLD 79R TO ENTER A LEFT DWNWND FOR RWY 12 & RPRT 2 MI SE. HE WAS RELIEVED AT 1643 BY A DEVELOPMENTAL CTLR (DC) & A FULL PERFORMANCE CTLR (FPC). HE BRIEFED THEM ON PSNS OF ACFT IN THE PATTERN & TOLD THEM 79R (STILL OUT OF SIGHT) WAS INBOUND FM THE SE, BUT HE DIDN'T SHOW THEM ITS PSN ON RADAR DRG THE BRIEFING. AT 1644:55, 79R MADE A CALL, SAYING THE ACFT WAS 'PRACTICALLY STRAIGHT EAST OF THE AIRPORT.' 79R NEVER RPRTD ON DWNWND, ALTHO TOLD AGAIN TO DO SO. THE CTLRS WERE WORKING SVRL ACFT; THEY NEITHER SIGHTED 79R, NOR USED RADAR TO FIND IT. AT 1647:06, 79R CALLED TURNING BASE FOR RWY 12. AT THAT TIME, 79R WAS TRACKING INSIDE THE FLT PATH OF 76F, AS 76F WAS IN A LEFT TURN TO FINAL APCH FOR RWY 14. ABT 25 SEC LTR, THE 2 CONVERGED, COLLIDED, THEN CRASHED TO THE GND. ## Aircraft 1 - Registration: [N6376F](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6376F-1992-11-06), registration cancelled 1992-11-06, S/N 17273210 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 172N - Registry model: [Cessna 172N](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172n) (registry code 2072434) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17273210 - Airframe hours: 4658 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320-H2AD 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Wings, Inc. - Registered owner: Wings, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal; Standard, Utility - Last inspection: 100 hour, May 21, 1992, 96 hours before - Departed: STP - Destination: STP - Airport: STP, Downtown Holman Field, runway 14, 6,711 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Aircraft 2 - Registration: [N5279R](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5279R-1993-01-11), registration cancelled 1993-01-11, S/N 17263493 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 172M - Registry model: [Cessna 172M](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172m) (registry code 2072418) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17263493 - Airframe hours: 5262 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320-E2D 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Part 91 - Operator: Clara J. & Arnold R. Johansen - Registered owner: Clara J. & Arnold R. Johansen - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal; Standard, Utility - Last inspection: Annual, August 14, 1992, 94 hours before - Departed: 87D, DODGE CENTER, MN - Destination: STP, ST PAUL, MN - Airport: STP, Downtown Holman Field, runway 12, 4,115 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot, aircraft N6376F; age 42; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: right; toxicology performed; flight hours: 560 total, 300 in this make and model, 495 as pilot in command, 240 in the last 90 days, 80 in the last 30 days, 7 in the last 24 hours - Pilot, aircraft N5279R; age 77; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 2,226 total, 1,955 as pilot in command, 22 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 150° at 5 knots - Visibility: 5 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 10,000 ft overcast - Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 66 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: STP, 1 nm away ## FAA reports on this event (2) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 19920707023952A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19920707023952A), Jul 7, 1992: Cessna 172N, St Paul, MN, Destroyed, 2 fatal. NR1 for runway was struck by N5279R on base for runway 12 that failed report downwind for sequence NR4 in traffic. - [Accident 19920707023951A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19920707023951A), Jul 7, 1992: Cessna 172M, St Paul, MN, Destroyed, 2 fatal. Failed to report for landing sequence. Reported base 12 prior collision with N6376F on final NR1 for landing 14. ## Other investigations on N6376F (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 MIA83LA154](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA83LA154), Jun 5, 1983: Cessna 172N (N6376F), Chuluota, FL, substantial damage 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.