- Date
- October 25, 2003, 12:25 local (19:25 UTC)
- Place
- San Diego, CA
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Phase of flight
- Taxi
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report March 30, 2004
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Parties
- Federal Aviation Admistration
- FAA reports
- 20031025026841A20031025026842A
- Case key
- 58246
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The NTSB’s determination of the probable cause, and any contributing factors.
the pilot of the other airplane's inadvertent application of the rudder pedals rather than the brakes, which resulted in the collision with the Cessna 172R.
the student pilot's inadvertent application of the rudder pedals rather than the brakes, which resulted in the on ground collision with the Cessna 172R.
Analysis
A Cessna 172R, N72AF, and a Piper PA-28-161, N39494, collided during taxi. The left wing and the propeller of the Piper respectively struck the rudder and right aileron of the Cessna. According to the pilot of the Piper, after arriving at the run-up area, the pilot attempted to slow the airplane. Instead of using the brake pedals, he used the rudder pedals. The pilot closed the throttle, but was unable to prevent the collision. The pilot did not report any mechanical malfunctions with the airplane.
A Cessna 172R, N72AF, and a Piper PA-28-161, N39494, collided during taxi. The left wing and the propeller of the Piper respectively struck the rudder and right aileron of the Cessna. According to the pilot of the Piper, after arriving at the run-up area, the pilot attempted to slow the airplane. Instead of using the brake pedals, he used the rudder pedals. The pilot closed the throttle, but was unable to prevent the collision. The pilot did not report any mechanical malfunctions with the airplane.
Factual narrative
On October 25, 2003, about 1225 Pacific daylight time, a Piper PA 28-161, N39494, collided with a Cessna 172R, N72AF, while taxiing to the run-up area at Montgomery Field (MYF), San Diego, California. Sorbi Flying Club was operting the PA-28-161, and the Cessna 172R was being operated by American Flyers, Inc. The student pilots in each airplane, the sole occupants, were not injured; both airplanes sustained substantial damage. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plans had been filed for the local area instructional flights. Both flights were originating at the time.
In a written statement, the pilot of the PA-28-161 reported that he was taxiing to the run-up area. After arriving at the run-up area he attempted to slow the airplane, but instead of using the brake pedals, he used the rudder pedals. The pilot closed the throttle; however, the left wing clipped the rudder and the propeller cut through the right aileron of the Cessna 172R. This was the first solo flight for the PA-28-161 pilot. He did not report any mechanical malfunctions with the airplane.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector inspected the brakes at the accident site and noted no anomalies.
On October 25, 2003, about 1225 Pacific daylight time, a Piper PA 28-161, N39494, collided with a Cessna 172R, N72AF, while taxiing to the run-up area at Montgomery Field (MYF), San Diego, California. Sorbi Flying Club was operating the PA-28-161, and the Cessna 172R was being operated by American Flyers, Inc. The student pilots in each airplane, the sole occupants, were not injured; both airplanes sustained substantial damage. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plans had been filed for the local area instructional flights. Both flights were originating at the time.
In a written statement, the pilot of the PA-28-161 reported that he was taxiing to the run-up area. After arriving at the run-up area he attempted to slow the airplane, but instead of using the brake pedals, he used the rudder pedals. The pilot closed the throttle; however, the left wing clipped the rudder and the propeller cut through the right aileron of the Cessna 172R. This was the first solo flight for the PA-28-161 pilot. He did not report any mechanical malfunctions with the airplane.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector inspected the brakes at the accident site and noted no anomalies.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Aircraft · 2
- Registration
- N39494
- Reported as
- Piper PA 28-161
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 28-7816663
- Engine
- Lycoming O 320-D36, 160 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Sorbi Flying Club
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- 100 hour · September 2, 2003 · 89.5 hours before
- Departed
- KMYF
- Destination
- KSDM · Brown Field, CA
- Airport
- MYF · Montgomery Field
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
- Registration
- N72AF
- Reported as
- Cessna 172R
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 17280070
- Engine
- Textron Lycoming IO-360 Ser, 160 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional · Part 91
- Operator
- American Flyers, Inc.
- Registered owner
- ATE of California, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Departed
- KMYF · San Diego, CA
- Destination
- KSDM · Brown FIeld, CA
- Airport
- MYF · Montgomery Field
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew · 2
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot, aircraft N39494
- Age
- 28
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Student
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 28 total · 28 in this make and model · 10 in the last 90 days · 2 in the last 30 days
- Role
- Pilot, aircraft N72AF
- Age
- 33
- Injuries
- Minor
- Certificate
- Student
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 35 total · 35 in this make and model · 35 in the last 90 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 300° at 6 knots
- Visibility
- 8 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 79 °F, dew point 61 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.01 inHg
- Observed at
- KMYF
FAA reports on this event · 2
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.