# NTSB FTW89LA105: Cessna 172, N6434J, Addison, TX, May 26, 1989

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: May 25, 1989, 22:00 local (May 26, 1989, 03:00 UTC)
- Place: Addison, TX
- Coordinates: 32.969493, -96.800453 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.9695&lon=-96.8005&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report July 29, 1992
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 22873
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW89LA105
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/22873/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW89LA105

## Probable cause

FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN CLEARANCE FROM THE TELEPHONE POLE.  FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE:  DARKNESS, THE PILOT'S DISORIENTATION, LACK OF VISUAL PERCEPTION AT NIGHT, THE TELEPHONE (UTILITY) POLE, AND THE DITCH.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- On ground/water collision with object, taxi
  - light condition - dark night (contributing factor)
  - became lost/disoriented - inadvertent, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - visual/aural perception, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - object - utility pole (contributing factor)
  - clearance - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, taxi
  - terrain condition - ditch (contributing factor)

## Analysis

DURING A NIGHT OPERATION, THE PILOT TAXIED THE AIRCRAFT ONTO AN ADJOINING ROADWAY, WHERE IT STRUCK AN UNMARKED TELEPHONE POLE AND THEN VEERED INTO A DITCH.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N6434J](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6434J-1990-10-31), registration cancelled 1990-10-31, S/N 17273873 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172
- Registry model: [Cessna 172N](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172n) (registry code 2072434) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 17273873
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Plane Texans Inc.
- Registered owner: Unknown
- Flight plan: Unknown
- Airport: ADS, Addison

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 22; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; flight hours: 161 total, 27 in this make and model, 108 as pilot in command, 56 in the last 90 days, 28 in the last 30 days, 7 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19890525013849A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19890525013849A), May 25, 1989: Cessna 172N, Dallas, TX, Substantial damage. Taxied at night onto a road by mistake. Wing hit pole, aircraft hit ditch. No taxiway lights or marked restrictions

## Other investigations on N6434J (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 FTW90LA174](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW90LA174), Sep 1, 1990: Cessna C172N (N6434J), Marietta, OK, substantial damage. Probable cause: FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO ATTAIN THE PROPER CLIMB RATE AFTER TAKEOFF RESULTING IN THE AIRCRAFT COLLIDING WITH TREES AT THE DEPARTURE END OF THE RUNWAY. CONTRIBUING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE PILOT IN…

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.

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