# NTSB LAX04CA282: Cessna 172P, N65615, Big Bear City, CA, July 27, 2004 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: July 27, 2004, 13:29 local (20:29 UTC) - Place: Big Bear City, CA - Coordinates: 34.26361, -116.854446 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.2636&lon=-116.8544&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 29, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA FSDO, Riverside, CA - NTSB case key (mKey): 59773 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX04CA282 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/59773/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX04CA282 ## Probable cause the instructor's inadequate compensation for wind conditions and delayed decision to perform a go-around. Contributing factors were wind gusts, windshear, and an excessive descent rate. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with terrain/water, go-around (vfr) - weather condition - gusts (contributing factor) - weather condition - windshear (contributing factor) - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, pilot in command(cfi) (cause) - go-around - delayed, pilot in command(cfi) (cause) - descent - excessive, pilot in command(cfi) (contributing factor) - terrain condition - high vegetation - terrain condition - ground ## Analysis The airplane collided with bushes and terrain during an attempted landing on a temporary runway. The runway is normally the south taxiway. It is the designated runway during major repairs to the main runway 08/26, and is marked with a displaced threshold and normal striping. The airplane landed prior to the displaced threshold. The instructor took the controls during the base leg turn when the student pilot voiced some concerns about his ability to land the airplane due to his lack of familiarity with the airport and the turbulence. The instructor reported gusty winds (280 degrees at 9-14), and severe windshear that was not reflected during his preflight weather briefing, or by the Unicom advisory service. The AWOS was out of service. The instructor put in an additional 10 degrees of flaps after clearing some trees. Upon encountering a high rate of sink he applied full power for a go-around and retracted the flaps to 10 degrees. He reported that the airplane was moving violently down and left, and ground contact was inevitable. The instructor reported that there were no mechanical issues with the airplane. ## Factual narrative On July 27, 2004, at 1329 Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 172P, N65615, collided with bushes and terrain during landing at Big Bear City Airport, Big Bear City, California. Cruise Air Aviation, Inc., Ramona, California, was operating the airplane under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. Neither the instructor pilot nor student was injured; the airplane was substantially damaged. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the cross-country instructional flight, and a visual flight plan had been filed. The flight originated at Ramona at 1235. The airplane was landing on a temporary runway (26), which is normally the south taxiway, during the major repairs to the main runway 08/26. The temporary runway was marked with a displaced threshold and normal striping. The airplane landed prior to the displaced threshold. The instructor reported gusty winds and extreme windshear, which was not reflected during his preflight weather briefing, or by the Unicom advisory service. The Automated Weather Observation System (AWOS) was out of service. The instructor reported that during the base leg turn the student pilot voiced some concerns about his ability to land the airplane due to his lack of familiarity with the airport and the turbulence. The instructor took the controls and lined up with the runway. According to the CFI, he asked the Unicom about the wind conditions and was told "280 degrees at 9-14 knots." Additionally, the Unicom advisory service reported that the winds were "quirky or freaky." The instructor put in an additional 10 degrees of flaps after clearing some trees. Upon encountering a high rate of sink he applied full power for a go-around and retracted the flaps to 10 degrees. He reported that the airplane was moving violently down and left, and ground contact was inevitable. The instructor pilot reported that there were no mechanical issues with the airplane. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N65615](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N65615-2023-09-27), registration cancelled 2023-09-27, S/N 17275786, built 1982 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 172P - Registry model: [Cessna 172P](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172p) (registry code 2072436) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17275786 - Engines: Lycoming O-320 reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Cruise Air Aviation, Inc. - Registered owner: Cruise Air - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: L39, Ramona, CA - Destination: L35, Big Bear City, AK - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: L35, Big Bear City, runway 26 ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 45; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review February 1, 2004; flight hours: 926 total, 892 in this make and model, 103 in the last 90 days, 55 in the last 30 days - Student pilot; age 25; student; medical: class 3; flight hours: 30 total, 30 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 280° at 9 knots, gusting 14 - Visibility: 25 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 70 °F - Altimeter: 30.02 inHg ## 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 20040727015529A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040727015529A), Jul 27, 2004: Cessna 172P, Big Bear, CA, Substantial damage. (-23) On final approach to L35'S taxiway (used as a temporary runway while the main runway was being resurfaced), the aircraft landed on the parallel service… ## Other investigations on N65615 (2) 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 ERA23LA049](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA23LA049), Nov 2, 2022: Cessna 172 (N65615), Greenville, SC, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s improper fuel management, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel starvation. Contributing was the pilot’s failure to use the checklist aboard the airplane during her… - [NTSB NYC83LA140](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC83LA140), Jun 14, 1983: Cessna 172P (N65615), Latrobe, PA, 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.