LAX05LA199

NTSB accident investigation · Cessna 172M · Carlsbad, CA · June 10, 2005

Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal report
Date
June 10, 2005, 13:45 local (20:45 UTC)
Place
Carlsbad, CA
Injuries
3 uninjured
Phase of flight
Taxi
Aircraft
N1126UCessna 172MN587SPCessna 172S
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report February 28, 2006
Report
Approved by Office Director
Parties
Federal Aviation Administration
Case key
61715

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 other pilot's inadequate visual lookout and failure to maintain separation while taxiing.

the pilot's inadequate visual lookout and failure to maintain separation while taxiing, which resulted in a collision with another airplane.

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.

Collision between aircraft (other than midair)Taxi - to takeoff
Object - aircraft parked/standing
Visual lookout - inadequatePilot in commandCause
Clearance - not maintainedPilot in commandCause
Collision between aircraft (other than midair)Standing - engine(s) operating
Visual lookout - inadequatePilot of other aircraftCause
Object - aircraft moving on ground
Clearance - not maintainedPilot of other aircraftCause

Analysis

While holding in the run-up area awaiting a takeoff clearance, the right wing tip of another Cessna 172 that was taxiing to the runway from the run-up area hit the airplane's tail section. After being cleared for takeoff, the other pilot had to taxi between a jet, also holding short of the runway, and this airplane.

While taxiing from the run up area to the runway, the airplane's right wing tip hit the tail section of another Cessna 172 that was holding in the run-up area awaiting a takeoff clearance. After being cleared for takeoff, the pilot had to taxi between a jet, also holding short of the runway, and the other Cessna 172.

Factual narrative

On June 10, 2005, about 1345 Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 172, N1126U, impacted the tail section of another Cessna 172, N587SP, with its right wing tip while taxiing to the runway at McClellan-Palomar Airport (CRQ), Carlsbad, California. Pinnacle Aviation Academy, Inc., was operating both airplanes under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. The private pilot (sole occupant) of N1126U was not injured, and the student pilot and certified flight instructor (CFI) on board N587SP were not injured. N1126U sustained minor damage and N587SP sustained substantial damage. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed. The local flight was originating at the time of the accident.

The pilots of both airplanes submitted a Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report (NTSB Form 6120.1/2). The pilot of N1126U taxied to the run up area and completed the run up. He called the control tower for a right closed traffic, touch-and-go clearance but due to other aircraft priorities, the tower could not give him clearance for about 10 minutes. When the tower cleared him for takeoff, he had to taxi between a jet and N587SP. While taxiing, the right wing tip of N1126U hit the tail section of N587SP. At the time of impact, N587SP was holding short of runway 24 at taxiway A1. N587SP was facing north-northeast and was impacted from behind; N1126U was taxiing in a westerly direction. The impact bent the rudder and buckled the vertical stabilizer of N587SP. The pilot of N1126U stated that the airplane and engine had no mechanical failures or malfunctions up to the time of the collision.

On June 10, 2005, about 1345 Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 172M, N1126U, impacted the tail section of another Cessna 172S, N587SP, with its right wing tip while taxiing to the runway at McClellan-Palomar Airport (CRQ), Carlsbad, California. Pinnacle Aviation Academy, Inc., was operating both airplanes under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. The private pilot (sole occupant) of N1126U was not injured, and the student pilot and certified flight instructor (CFI) on board N587SP were not injured. N1126U sustained minor damage and N587SP sustained substantial damage. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed. The local flight was originating at the time of the accident.

The pilots of both airplanes submitted a Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report (NTSB Form 6120.1/2). The pilot of N1126U taxied to the run up area and completed the run up. He called the control tower for a right closed traffic, touch-and-go clearance but due to other aircraft priorities, the tower could not give him clearance for about 10 minutes. When the tower cleared him for takeoff, he had to taxi between a jet and N587SP. While taxiing, the right wing tip of N1126U hit the tail section of N587SP. The impact bent the rudder and buckled the vertical stabilizer of N587SP. The pilot stated that the airplane and engine had no mechanical failures or malfunctions up to the time of the collision.

Aircraft · 2

Registration
N1126U
Reported as
Cessna 172M
Category
Airplane
Serial number
17266855
Engine
Lycoming O-320, 150 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Minor damage
Flight
Personal · Part 91
Registered owner
Pinnacle Aviation Services Inc
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Departed
CRQ · Carlsbad, CA
Destination
CRQ
Airport
CRQ · Mc Clellan-Palomar

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
N587SP
Reported as
Cessna 172S
Category
Airplane
Serial number
172S8518
Engine
Textron Lycoming IO-360-L2A, 180 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Instructional · Part 91
Operator
Pinnacle Aviation Academy Inc
Registered owner
Skyhawk Leasing LLC
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal
Departed
CRQ · Carlsbad, CA
Destination
CRQ
Airport
CRQ · Mc Clellan-Palomar

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 · 3

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role
Pilot, aircraft N1126U
Age
62
Injuries
None
Certificate
Private
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land
Medical
Class 3, With waivers/limitations
Last flight review
April 1, 2005
Seat
Left
Flight hours
210 total · 210 in this make and model · 63 as pilot in command · 9 in the last 90 days · 4 in the last 30 days · 0 in the last 24 hours
Role
Flight instructor, aircraft N587SP
Age
34
Injuries
None
Certificates
Flight instructor, Commercial
Airplane ratings
Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
Instrument ratings
Airplane
Medical
Class 2, With waivers/limitations
Last flight review
August 1, 2004
Seat
Right
Flight hours
850 total · 227 in this make and model · 773 as pilot in command · 217 in the last 90 days · 95 in the last 30 days · 4 in the last 24 hours
Role
Student pilot, aircraft N587SP
Age
26
Injuries
None
Certificate
Student
Medical
Class 2, With waivers/limitations
Seat
Left

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
250° at 8 knots
Visibility
10 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
1,600 ft broken
Temperature
66 °F, dew point 57 °F
Altimeter
29.84 inHg
Observed at
CRQ

FAA reports on this event · 2

The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.

Other investigations on N1126U · 1

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.