# NTSB LAX85LA109: Cessna 177, N3279T, Fullerton, CA, January 14, 1985

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: January 14, 1985, 11:10 local (19:10 UTC)
- Place: Fullerton, CA
- Location: 33.8720° N, 117.9798° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at FULLERTON MUNI (FUL), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.8720&lon=-117.9798&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 2 minor
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 24633
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX85LA109
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/24633/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX85LA109

## Sequence of events

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

- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - judgment - poor, pilot in command (cause)
  - qualification, pilot in command (cause)
  - inadequate surveillance of operation, company/operator mgmt (contributing factor)
  - distance - misjudged, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - airspeed - misjudged, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - flare - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - recovery from bounced landing - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - go-around - delayed, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with object, landing
  - aborted landing - initiated, pilot in command
  - object - fence (contributing factor)
  - clearance - not attained, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

ON LANDING, THE ACFT PORPOISED AFTER IT TOUCHED DOWN LONG & FAST. A GO-AROUND WAS ATTEMPTED, BUT TOO LATE, & THE ACFT STRUCK A FENCE AT THE END OF THE RWY. THE OWNER OF THE ACFT A PRE-SOLO STUDENT PILOT, WAS A PASSENGER. THE 'PILOT' LEFT THE SCENE & COULD NOT BE LOCATED. FAA RECORDS DID NOT INDICATE THAT THE 'PILOT' EVER HELD AN AIRMAN CERTIFICATE. THE 'PILOT' HAD REPRESENTED HIMSELF TO THE OWNER AS AN ACFT MECHANIC & HAD MADE ARRANGEMENTS TO CONDUCT AN ANNUAL INSPECTION OF THE ACFT. THE PURPOSE OF THE FLT WAS TO 'CHECK OUT THE ACFT. . .'

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N3279T](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3279T-1990-08-14), registration cancelled 1990-08-14, S/N 17700579 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 177
- Registry model: [Cessna 177](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-177) (registry code 2073704) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 17700579
- Airframe hours: 1653
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-E2D 150 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Albert Allen
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, January 19, 1984, 30 hours before
- Departed: FUL, FULLERTON, CA
- Airport: FUL, Fullerton Muni, runway 6, 3,121 × 75 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 33; seat: left

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 300° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 35 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 61 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: FUL

## 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 19850114000739A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19850114000739A), Jan 14, 1985: Cessna 177, Fullerton, CA, Substantial damage. Aircraft porpoised on landing and during go around attempt struck fence. Pilot left scene after giving false info.

## Other investigations on N3279T (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 LAX70F0030](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX70F0030), Jun 28, 1969: Cessna 177 (N3279T), Wildomar, CA, substantial damage
- [NTSB LAX68D0352](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX68D0352), Feb 18, 1968: Cessna 177 (N3279T), Parker, AZ, 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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