# NTSB LAX04CA196: Cessna 172N, N734RE, Lincoln, CA, April 25, 2004 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: April 25, 2004, 12:30 local (19:30 UTC) - Place: Lincoln, CA - Coordinates: 38.915279, -121.352218 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.9153&lon=-121.3522&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report July 29, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 59146 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX04CA196 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/59146/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX04CA196 ## Probable cause the pilot's failure to maintain obstacle clearance. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - On ground/water collision with object, taxi - from landing - object - pole - clearance - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis While taxiing to the fueling pit after landing the left wing struck a light pole at the end of the paved ramp area. The pilot saw other airplanes waiting for fuel, so he taxied down a taxiway that he did not normally use. He had to maneuver the airplane around a parked airplane at the end of the ramp area, and the left wing struck a light pole. The pilot noted no mechanical problems with the airplane. ## Factual narrative On April 25, 2004, at 1230 Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 172N, N734RE, struck a pole with the left wing while taxiing to the fueling pits after landing on runway 15 at the Lincoln Regional Airport/Karl Harder Field (LHM), Lincoln, California. Affordable Aviation, Inc., operated the rental airplane under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. The airplane sustained substantial damage. The private pilot and one passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local area flight, and a flight plan had not been filed. The flight departed the Chico Municipal Airport (CIC), Chico, California, at 1115. The flight was scheduled to terminate at LHM. The National Transportation Safety Board investigator-in-charge (IIC) interviewed the pilot. The pilot stated that after landing his intent was to taxi to the fueling pit to refuel the airplane prior to parking the airplane at Affordable Aviation, Inc. He stated that there were other airplanes at the fueling pit, so he taxied down a different row than normal. He maneuvered around an end-parked airplane, and the left wing struck a light pole at the edge of the hard surface parking area. The pole was in line with the parked airplane. The pilot's initial thought was that he had run over something. Then he realized that the left wing had struck the light pole. The pilot stated that after hitting the pole, the airplane rotated partially around the pole coming to rest in a dirt/grass area. He shut down the engine and reported the accident to Affordable Aviation. The pilot stated that there were no mechanical problems with the airplane. The pilot reported that Affordable Aviation instructed him to refuel the airplane and taxi it back to the parking area next to their offices. The pilot complied with the request. The owner of Affordable Aviation had a conversation with the pilot at the parking area. The pilot told him that he had taxied down the wrong taxiway in order to get in line for fuel. The pilot had to make a u-turn, which put him into the dirt. As the pilot was making the turn, he felt a bump and thought it was the tire leaving the pavement. The pilot continued the turn, and then realized that the left wing had struck a light pole. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N734RE](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N734RE), registered now, S/N 17269048, built 1977 (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: 17269048 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-H2AD reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Affordable Aviation, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: CIC, Chico, CA - Destination: LHM, Lincoln, CA - Airport: LHM, Lincoln Regional, runway 15 ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 49; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3; flight hours: 132 total, 55 in this make and model, 10 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day ## 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 20040425007329A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040425007329A), Apr 25, 2004: Cessna 172N, Lincoln, CA, Substantial damage. (-23) While taxiing to the fuel pump at the Lincoln, CA airport, the left wing of the aircraft struck a light pole adjacent to the edge of the parking area,… 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.