# NTSB LAX02LA094: Cessna 172N, N1977F, Madera, CA, February 25, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: February 24, 2002, 17:50 local (Feb 25, 2002, 01:50 UTC) - Place: Madera, CA - Coordinates: 36.927776, -119.851943 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.9278&lon=-119.8519&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 2, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 54249 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX02LA094 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/54249/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=54249 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX02LA094 ## Probable cause The pilot's becoming lost/disoriented. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll - became lost/disoriented, pilot in command - terrain condition - short runway/landing area - precautionary landing - performed, pilot in command (cause) - terrain condition - berm - Nose over, landing - roll ## Analysis During a local daytime flight the pilot became disoriented. He made a precautionary landing in a small airstrip used for model airplanes. On rollout, the airplane overran the end of the 700-foot-long field, impacted a berm, and nosed over. The pilot subsequently reported that he had landed because it was getting dark, it was foggy, and he had become disoriented. The responding sheriff reported that no fog was noted in the area, the visibility was not restricted, and it was daylight. Airports 10 to 15 miles from the accident site also reported having a clear sky condition and unrestricted visibility. ## Factual narrative On February 24, 2002, about 1750 Pacific standard time, a Cessna 172N, N1977F, nosed over during a precautionary landing on the Fresno Radio Modelers airstrip about 11 miles east of Madera, California. The airplane was substantially damaged. The private pilot, who owned and operated the airplane, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed. The personal flight was performed under 14 CFR Part 91, and it originated from a private airstrip near Tranquillity, California, about 1630. The pilot reported to the National Transportation Safety Board investigator that during the flight he became concerned and uncertain regarding his location. It was foggy and was getting dark. The pilot stated that he had only planned to make a local area flight. He had departed from Tranquillity sometime after 1400, but he was not certain of the time. Being uncertain of his position, he made a precautionary landing. The pilot repeated that he landed because he was having difficulty flying due to the fog. A responding law enforcement officer from the Madera County Sheriff's Department reported to the Safety Board investigator that the length of the airstrip on which the pilot had landed was an estimated 650 to 700 feet, and it was principally intended for use by operators of radio controlled model airplanes. The officer indicated that during rollout, the airplane overran the end of the airstrip, impacted a berm, and nosed over. In addition, the officer reported that the pilot mentioned to him that during his flight he had become disoriented due to the presence of fog. The officer stated, however, that there was no fog in the area and the visibility was unrestricted. The two nearest facilities to the accident site that report aviation weather are located at the Madera and Fresno airports. They are about 15 miles west and 10 miles south, respectively, of the accident site. The elevations of the Madera and Fresno airports and the accident site are, respectively, 253 feet, 336 feet, and about 382 feet mean sea level. In pertinent part, no fog or obstructions to vision were reported at these airports during the time of the pilot's flight. Madera reported its visibility was 10 miles, and the sky condition was clear. Fresno reported its visibility was also 10 miles, and few clouds existed at 20,000 feet. Sunset occurred about 1750. Subsequently, members of the pilot's family completed the Safety Board's Aircraft Accident Report form for the pilot. The family members reported that several weeks after the mishap, the pilot was still confused regarding circumstances of the accident flight. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N1977F](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N1977F), registered now, S/N 17273065, built 1979 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 172N - Registry model: [Cessna 172N](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172n) (registry code 2072434) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17273065 - Engines: Lycoming O-360_H2AD 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: James A. Siewert - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, October 1, 2001 - Departed: Tranquillity, CA - Destination: Tranquillity, CA ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 78; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review August 14, 2001; seat: left; flight hours: 2,343 total, 900 in this make and model, 3 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 59 °F, dew point 43 °F - Altimeter: 30.18 inHg - Observed at: FAT, 10 nm away ## 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 20020224003379A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020224003379A), Feb 24, 2002: Cessna 172N, No damage. (-23) The pilot was conducting a local pleasure flight when he believed that fog was forming in the area. He was unable to find an airport and decided to make… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 13, 2003, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=54249. 421 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 296 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40390143&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Weather Reports and Records (item 2, .PDF, 22 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40185714&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Reports%20and%20Records-Master.PDF - Sun & Moon Data (item 3, .PDF, 26 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40185715&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Sun%20%26%20Moon%20Data-Master.PDF - Madera County Sheriff's Report (Extract) (item 4, .PDF, 77 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40390144&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Madera%20County%20Sheriff%27s%20Report%20(Extract)-Redacted.PDF 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.