- Date
- December 22, 2005, 10:54 local (18:54 UTC)
- Place
- La Verne, CA
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Phase of flight
- Approach
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report August 29, 2006
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Parties
- Federal Aviation Administration
- FAA report
- 20051222032781A
- Case key
- 62981
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 failure of the pilot of the other aircraft to comply with his air traffic control clearance and line up for the proper runway, and his failure to maintain an adequate visual lookout, which resulted in his in-flight collision with the Cessna airplane.
the failure of the pilot to comply with his air traffic control clearance and line up for the proper runway, and his failure to maintain an adequate visual lookout, which resulted in his in-flight collision with the Cessna 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.
Analysis
A Beech F33A airplane impacted a Cessna 172N on short final after lining up on the wrong runway. According to the Beech pilot, he was cleared by the air traffic control tower for landing on runway 26R, but instead, accidentally lined up for runway 26L. On short final, the Beech pilot felt his airplane hit something and immediately heard the air traffic controller instruct him to go around. The pilot went around and eventually performed an uneventful landing. The Cessna student pilot was conducting his fourth solo flight and was practicing takeoffs and landings on 26L. He was cleared for the option on 26L and while on short final was overtaken by the Beech. The student pilot continued with an uneventful landing.
A Beech F33A airplane impacted a Cessna 172N on short final after lining up on the wrong runway. According to the Beech pilot, he was cleared by the air traffic control tower for landing on runway 26R, but instead, accidentally lined up for runway 26L. On short final, the Beech pilot felt his airplane hit something and immediately heard the air traffic controller instruct him to go around. The pilot went around and eventually performed an uneventful landing. The Cessna student pilot was conducting his fourth solo flight and was practicing takeoffs and landings on 26L. He was cleared for the option on 26L and while on short final was overtaken by the Beech. The student pilot continued with an uneventful landing.
Factual narrative
On December 22, 2005, at 1054 Pacific standard time, a Beech F33A, N3084N, collided with a Cessna 172N, N738AH, that was on short final for runway 26L at the Brackett Field Airport, La Verne, California. Neither the commercial pilot in the Beech nor the student pilot in the Cessna were injured. The Cessna 172 sustained substantial damage, while the Beech F33A was not damaged. The pilot of the Beech was operating the airplane under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91 as a personal flight, while the student pilot was operating the Cessna under the provisions of the 14 CFR Part 91 as a solo instructional flight. The Beech departed Santa Barbara, California, around 1000, and was destined for La Verne. The Cessna was conducting a local training flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a flight plan was not filed for either flight.
According to the Beech pilot, the air traffic controller cleared him to land on runway 26R. He accidentally set up for landing on runway 26L. While on short final, he felt his airplane hit something and immediately heard the controller instruct him to go around. The pilot went around and set up for an uneventful landing. He later learned that he impacted a Cessna that was on short final for runway 26L. The Cessna continued with an uneventful landing.
According to the Cessna pilot, he was conducting his fourth solo and was practicing takeoff and landings at the airport. The control tower had cleared the Cessna pilot for the option on runway 26L. While he was on final approach, the Beech lined up on the wrong runway and overtook his airplane, impacting the top of the Cessna. The student continued with the uneventful landing.
The Beech was not damaged, but the Cessna's left wing was bent up about 30 degrees.
On December 22, 2005, at 1054 Pacific standard time, a Beech F33A, N3084N, collided with a Cessna 172N, N738AH, that was on short final for runway 26L at the Brackett Field Airport, La Verne, California. Neither the commercial pilot in the Beech nor the student pilot in the Cessna were injured. The Cessna 172 sustained substantial damage, while the Beech F33A was not damaged. The pilot of the Beech was operating the airplane under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91 as a personal flight, while the student pilot was operating the Cessna under the provisions of the 14 CFR Part 91 as a solo instructional flight. The Beech departed Santa Barbara, California, around 1000, and was destined for La Verne. The Cessna was conducting a local training flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a flight plan was not filed for either flight.
According to the Beech pilot, the air traffic controller cleared him to land on runway 26R. He accidentally set up for landing on runway 26L. While on short final, he felt his airplane hit something and immediately heard the controller instruct him to go around. The pilot went around and set up for an uneventful landing. He later learned that he impacted a Cessna that was on short final for runway 26L. The Cessna continued with an uneventful landing.
According to the Cessna pilot, he was conducting his fourth solo and was practicing takeoff and landings at the airport. The control tower had cleared the Cessna pilot for the option on runway 26L. While he was on final approach, the Beech lined up on the wrong runway and overtook his airplane, impacting the top of the Cessna. The student continued with the uneventful landing.
The Beech was not damaged, but the Cessna's left wing was bent up about 30 degrees.
Aircraft · 2
- Registration
- N3084N
- Reported as
- Beech F33A
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- CE-1246
- Airframe hours
- 2,551
- Engine
- Continental IO-520-BB16B, 285 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- No damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Edward J. Robinson
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal; Standard, Utility
- Last inspection
- Annual · May 1, 2005 · 92 hours before
- Departed
- SBA · Santa Barbara, CA
- Destination
- POC · La Verne, CA
- Airport
- POC · Brackett, runway 26L, 4,838 × 75 ft, asphalt
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
- N738AH
- Reported as
- Cessna 172N
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 69822
- Airframe hours
- 2,624.6
- Engine
- Lycoming O-360-A4M, 180 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional · Part 91
- Operator
- David Rothfus
- Registered owner
- Thomas V. Bressan
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · September 1, 2005 · 46 hours before
- Departed
- POC · La Verne, CA
- Airport
- POC · Brackett, runway 26L, 5,000 × 75 ft, asphalt
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 N3084N
- Age
- 73
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- September 1, 2004
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 5,414 total · 1,227 in this make and model · 5,111 as pilot in command · 37 in the last 90 days · 12 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
- Role
- Student pilot, aircraft N738AH
- Age
- 43
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Student
- Medical
- Class 3, With waivers/limitations
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 73 total · 24 in this make and model · 3 as pilot in command · 30 in the last 90 days · 14 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- Variable at 4 knots
- Visibility
- 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 20,000 ft broken
- Observed at
- POC
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.