# NTSB LAX82DA197: Cessna 172, N5954A, Fresno, CA, May 28, 1982

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Final report
- Date: May 27, 1982, 21:00 local (May 28, 1982, 04:00 UTC)
- Place: Fresno, CA
- Coordinates: 36.779582, -119.819389 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.7796&lon=-119.8194&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report May 27, 1983
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 70758
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX82DA197
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/70758/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX82DA197

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - flare - misjudged, dual student (cause)
  - recovery from bounced landing - improper, dual student (cause)
  - directional control - not maintained, dual student (cause)
  - ground loop/swerve - not identified, pilot in command(cfi) (cause)
  - supervision - inadequate, pilot in command(cfi) (cause)
- On ground/water collision with object, landing - roll
  - object - aircraft parked/standing (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE ACFT LANDED HARD, BOUNCED, VEERED LEFT & COLLIDED WITH A PARKED ACFT. THE CFI RECOGNIZED THAT THE APPROACH SPEED WASTOO SLOW & WAITED TOO LONG BEFORE TAKING OVER. A DELIBERATE TURN WAS MADE TO AVOID RESIDENCES.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N5954A](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5954A-1985-05-14), registration cancelled 1985-05-14, S/N 28554 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172
- Registry model: [Cessna 172](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172) (registry code 2072402) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 28554
- Airframe hours: 2076
- Engines: CONTINENTAL O-300 145 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Wesley A. Nelson
- Registered owner: Wesley A. Nelson
- Departed: Q60, FRESNO, CA
- Destination: Q60, FRESNO, CA
- Airport: Q60, Sierra Sky Park, runway 30, 3,200 × 400 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 57; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; flight hours: 1,331 total, 217 in this make and model, 1,231 as pilot in command, 80 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 310° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Temperature: 174 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: FAT, 4 nm away

## 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 19820527020959A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19820527020959A), May 27, 1982: Cessna 172, Fresno, CA, Destroyed. Approached low and slow. Instructor waited too long. Took over. Banked steeply to avoid houses. Hit parked aircraft.

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.

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