# NTSB LAX87LA197: Cessna 172P, N54978, Huntingtonbeach, CA, April 23, 1987

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: April 22, 1987, 20:30 local (Apr 23, 1987, 03:30 UTC)
- Place: Huntingtonbeach, CA
- Coordinates: 33.710639, -118.039558 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.7106&lon=-118.0396&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report May 9, 1988
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 25583
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX87LA197
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/25583/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX87LA197

## Sequence of events

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

- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - recovery from bounced landing - poor, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - lack of total experience in type operation, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - go-around - delayed, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with object, takeoff - initial climb
  - object - building(nonresidential) (contributing factor)

## Analysis

ON TOUCHDOWN THE PLT REPORTED THAT THE ACFT BOUNCED TWICE. THE PLT INITIATED A GO-AROUND BY RETRACTING THE FLAPS AND ADDING FULL POWER.  THE ACFT DID NOT GAIN ENOUGH ALTITUDE BEFORE COLLIDING WITH A QUONSET HUT LOCATED 210 FEET FROM THE END OF THE RUNWAY.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N54978 (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172P
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 17275097
- Airframe hours: 414
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-D2J 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Dondald Testa
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, April 4, 1987, 13 hours before
- Departed: FUL, FULLERTON, CA
- Destination: L16, HUNTINGTONBEACH, CA
- Airport: L16, Meadowlark, runway 19, 2,330 × 36 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 42; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 240 total, 191 in this make and model, 240 as pilot in command, 13 in the last 90 days, 13 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dusk
- Wind: 210° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 68 °F, dew point 55 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: SNA, 9 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 19870422010889A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19870422010889A), Apr 22, 1987: Cessna 172P, Huntington Beac, CA, Substantial damage. The aircraft hit a quonset hut during a go around. The pilot raised the flaps before establishing a climb.

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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