# NTSB LAX84LA313: Cessna 172N, N73857, Ballard, CA, May 22, 1984

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: May 22, 1984, 11:20 local (18:20 UTC)
- Place: Ballard, CA
- Coordinates: 34.78936, -119.989059 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.7894&lon=-119.9891&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 3 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 24279
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX84LA313
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/24279/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX84LA313

## Sequence of events

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

- Midair collision, maneuvering
  - clearance - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - visual lookout - inadequate, pilot of other aircraft (cause)
- Midair collision, maneuvering
  - visual lookout - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - clearance - not maintained, pilot of other aircraft (cause)

## Analysis (aircraft 2)

THE PILOT OF N73857, A CESSNA 172 AND THE PILOT OF N521ST, A CESSNA 305 ARRANGED PRIOR TO THE FLIGHT TO FLY A 'MISSING MAN' FORMATION WITH TWO OTHER AIRCRAFT. THE PLT OF N73857 WAS INSTRUCTED TO FLY TO THE LEFT REAR OF THE LEAD ACFT, N521ST. THE PILOT OF N521ST REPORTED THAT HE OBSERVED N73857 OVERTAKE HIS AIRCRAFT FROM HIS LEFT REAR, BUT WAS UNABLE TO MANEUVER HIS AIRCRAFT AWAY FAST ENOUGH TO AVOID THE COLLISION. THE PLT OF N521ST STATED THAT HIS WAS THE LEADING AIRCRAFT AND THE OTHER PILOT IN N73857 WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR MAINTAINING HIS REARWARD POSITION.

## Aircraft 1

- Registration: [N73857](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N73857-2013-07-16), registration cancelled 2013-07-16, S/N 17267725, built 1976 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172N
- Registry model: [Cessna 172N](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172n) (registry code 2072434) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 17267725
- Airframe hours: 1200
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Minor damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Buckland Snow & Zimmerman, Inc
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: 1ZA, SANTA YNEZ, CA
- Destination: SMX, SANTA MARIA, CA

## Aircraft 2

- Registration: [N521ST](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N521ST), registered now, S/N 24584 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 305C
- Registry model: [Cessna 305C (0-1E)](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-305c-0-1e) (registry code 2074014) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental O-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-470-series) (registry code 17026, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: CONTINENTAL O-470-11 213 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Fire: Unknown
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: John G Roberts
- Registered owner: John G. Roberts
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility
- Departed: IZA, SANTA YNEZ, CA
- Destination: SBA, SANTA BARBARA, CA

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot, aircraft N73857; age 59; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 830 total, 245 in this make and model, 63,023 as pilot in command, 4 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days
- Pilot, aircraft N521ST; age 42; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: front; flight hours: 3,410 total, 1,108 in this make and model, 3,020 as pilot in command, 37 in the last 90 days, 23 in the last 30 days, 11 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 70 °F

## FAA reports on this event (2)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19840522025351A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19840522025351A), May 22, 1984: Cessna 172N, Ballard, CA, Minor damage. During pre arranged formation flight rear aircraft overtook and collided with N521ST.
- [Accident 19840522025352A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19840522025352A), May 22, 1984: Cessna 305C, Ballard, CA, Substantial damage. During prearranged formation flight aircraft was overtaken and struck by propellor of N73857.

## Other investigations on N73857 (2)

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.

- [NTSB LAX03CA247](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX03CA247), Jul 20, 2003: Cessna 172N (N73857), Livermore, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's misjudged landing flare, which resulted in a porpoise pilot induced oscillation and hard landing.
- [NTSB OAK78FVD05](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/OAK78FVD05-139103), Nov 18, 1978: Cessna C172 (N73857), Petaluma, CA, substantial damage

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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