LAX06LA108

NTSB accident investigation · Cessna 172N · Sacramento, CA · February 11, 2006

Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal report
Date
February 11, 2006, 15:10 local (23:10 UTC)
Place
Sacramento, CA
Injuries
5 uninjured
Phase of flight
Taxi
Aircraft
N739GYCessna 172NN54661Cessna 172P
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report May 29, 2007
Report
Approved by Office Director
Parties
Federal Aviation Administration
Case key
63223

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

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Probable cause

the failure of the pilot of the other airplane to maintain an adequate clearance from obstacles while taxiing.

the pilot's failure to maintain adequate clearance from obstacles while taxiing.

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
Clearance - not maintainedPilot in commandCause
Collision between aircraft (other than midair)Standing - engine(s) operating
Object - aircraft parked/standing
Clearance - not maintainedPilot of other aircraftCause

Analysis

A taxiing Cessna 172N collided with this airplane that was stationary in the run-up area. The pilot of the Cessna 172N positioned himself behind this airplane in the run up area. He completed his checklists, and requested takeoff clearance. He received permission to taxi into position and hold on the runway, and added power to taxi around this airplane. He said he failed to realize the close proximity of his airplane's left wing to this airplane's rudder. His airplane's wing tip collided with the this airplane's rudder and vertical stabilizer.

A taxiing Cessna 172N collided with a stationary Cessna 172P in the run-up area. The pilot of the Cessna 172N positioned himself behind the 172P in the run up area. He completed his checklists, and requested takeoff clearance. He received permission to taxi into position and hold on the runway, and added power to taxi around the 172P. He said he failed to realize the close proximity of his airplane's left wing to the 172P's rudder. His airplane's wing tip collided with the other airplane's rudder and vertical stabilizer.

Factual narrative

On February 11, 2006, about 1510 Pacific standard time, a taxiing Cessna 172N, N739GY, collided on the ground with a standing Cessna 172P, N54661, at Sacramento Executive Airport, Sacramento, California. Executive Flyers, Inc., was operating both of the airplanes under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. The private pilot and one passenger in the taxiing Cessna 172N were not injured; the airplane sustained minor damage. The certified flight instructor (CFI), the student pilot, and one passenger in the standing Cessna 172P were not injured; the airplane sustained substantial damage. The Cessna 172N was preparing to depart on a local personal flight, and the standing Cessna 172P was departing on a local instructional flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed for either airplane.

The CFI in the 172P stated that he and his student were in the run up area. Their airplane was stationary, and he saw the pilot of the 172N stop behind him. After completing their takeoff checks, they switched from ground control to tower frequency. He heard the 172N pilot ask and receive clearance for takeoff. He saw the 172N move forward, and felt that it was getting too close to his airplane. He was about to move forward when the left wing of the 172N hit his airplane's rudder.

The pilot of the Cessna 172N stated that he positioned himself behind the 172P in the run up area. He completed his checklists, and requested takeoff clearance. He received permission to position and hold, and added power to taxi around the 172P. He said that he failed to realize the close proximity of his airplane's left wing to the 172P's rudder. His airplane's wing tip collided with the other airplane's rudder and vertical stabilizer. Both pilots immediately stopped and shut down their engines.

On February 11, 2006, about 1510 Pacific standard time, a taxiing Cessna 172N, N739GY, collided on the ground with a standing Cessna 172P, N54661, at Sacramento Executive Airport, Sacramento, California. Executive Flyers, Inc., was operating both of the airplanes under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. The private pilot and one passenger in the taxiing Cessna 172N were not injured; the airplane sustained minor damage. The certified flight instructor (CFI), the student pilot, and one passenger in the standing Cessna 172P were not injured; the airplane sustained substantial damage. The Cessna 172N was preparing to depart on a local personal flight, and the standing Cessna 172P was departing on a local instructional flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed for either airplane.

The CFI in the 172P stated that he and his student were in the run up area. Their airplane was stationary, and he saw the pilot of the 172N stop behind him. After completing their takeoff checks, they switched from ground control to tower frequency. He heard the 172N pilot ask and receive clearance for takeoff. He saw the 172N move forward, and felt that it was getting too close to his airplane. He was about to move forward when the left wing of the 172N hit his airplane's rudder.

The pilot of the Cessna 172N stated that he positioned himself behind the 172P in the run up area. He completed his checklists, and requested takeoff clearance. He received permission to position and hold, and added power to taxi around the 172P. He said that he failed to realize the close proximity of his airplane's left wing to the 172P's rudder. His airplane's wing tip collided with the other airplane's rudder and vertical stabilizer. Both pilots immediately stopped and shut down their engines.

Aircraft · 2

Registration
N739GY
Reported as
Cessna 172N
Category
Airplane
Serial number
17270543
Airframe hours
9,152
Engine
Lycoming O-320, 160 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Minor damage
Flight
Personal · Part 91
Operator
Executive Flyers, Inc.
Registered owner
Frank Radecki
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Last inspection
100 hour · November 1, 2005
Departed
SAC · Sacramento, CA
Airport
SAC · Sacramento Executive, runway 20, 5,503 × 150 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
N54661
Reported as
Cessna 172P
Category
Airplane
Serial number
17275028
Airframe hours
11,823
Engine
Lycoming O-320, 160 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Instructional · Part 91
Operator
Executive Flyers, Inc.
Registered owner
Joel Carey
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Last inspection
100 hour · February 1, 2006
Departed
SAC · Sacramento, CA
Airport
SAC · Sacramento Executive, runway 20, 5,503 × 150 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 · 3

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role
Pilot, aircraft N739GY
Age
23
Injuries
None
Certificate
Private
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land
Medical
Class 3, Without waivers/limitations
Last flight review
July 1, 2005
Seat
Left
Flight hours
166 total · 55 in this make and model · 111 as pilot in command · 9 in the last 90 days · 8 in the last 30 days
Role
Flight instructor, aircraft N54661
Age
21
Injuries
None
Certificates
Commercial, Flight instructor
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
Instrument ratings
Airplane
Medical
Class 1, Without waivers/limitations
Last flight review
May 1, 2005
Seat
Right
Flight hours
1,310 total · 1,000 in this make and model · 1,260 as pilot in command · 200 in the last 90 days · 50 in the last 30 days
Role
Student pilot, aircraft N54661
Injuries
None
Certificate
Student
Medical
Class 3, With waivers/limitations
Seat
Left
Flight hours
42 total · 8 in this make and model · 10 in the last 90 days · 4 in the last 30 days

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
310° at 3 knots
Visibility
10 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
None
Temperature
70 °F, dew point 46 °F
Altimeter
30.31 inHg
Observed at
SAC

FAA reports on this event · 2

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