# NTSB LAX88FA094: Cessna 172, N5113A, Temple City, CA, January 23, 1988 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report - Date: January 23, 1988, 14:02 local (22:02 UTC) - Place: Temple City, CA - Coordinates: 34.099414, -118.050285 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.0994&lon=-118.0503&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 2 fatal, 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report July 9, 1990 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 25805 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX88FA094 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/25805/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX88FA094 ## Probable cause (aircraft 2) PILOT OF N63CA IMPROPER VISUAL LOOK-OUT. CONTRIBUTING TO THIS ACCIDENT WAS THE CONTROLLER'S FAILURE TO OBSERVE THE FASTER MOVING AIRPLANE APPROACHING THE SINGLE ENGINE CESSNA FROM THE REAR. ## Probable cause (aircraft 1) PILOT OF N63CA IMPROPER VISUAL LOOK-OUT. CONTRIBUTING TO THIS ACCIDENT WAS THE CONTROLLER'S FAILURE TO OBSERVE THE FASTER MOVING AIRPLANE APPROACHING THE SINGLE ENGINE CESSNA FROM THE REAR. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Midair collision, cruise - normal - visual lookout - inadequate, pilot of other aircraft (cause) - radar assistance to vfr aircraft - not issued, atc personnel(dep/apch) (contributing factor) - safety advisory - not issued, atc personnel(dep/apch) (contributing factor) - radar,conflict alert - inadequate (contributing factor) - Loss of control - in flight, cruise - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled - terrain condition - mountainous/hilly - Midair collision, cruise - normal - visual lookout - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - radar assistance to vfr aircraft - not issued, atc personnel(dep/apch) (contributing factor) - safety advisory - not issued, atc personnel(dep/apch) (contributing factor) - radar,conflict alert - inadequate (contributing factor) - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, climb - to cruise - emergency procedure - performed, pilot in command ## Analysis (aircraft 2) A TWIN ENGINE CESSNA COLLIDED WITH A SINGLE ENGINE FROM THE SINGLE ENGINE CESSNA'S 7 O'CLOCK POSITION. THE SINGLE ENGINE CESSNA CRASHED AND THE TWIN CESSNA LANDED WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT. BOTH AIRPLANES WERE CONDUCTING VISUAL FLIGHT RULES PERSONAL FLIGHTS TO VAN NUYS, CA. THE SINGLE ENGINE CESSNA 172 WAS RECEIVING TRAFFIC ADVISORIES FROM BURBANK TRACON. THE TWIN ENGINE CESSNA HAD DEPARTED FULLERTON AND WAS FLYING A CIRCUITOUS ROUTE TO VAN NUYS IN ORDER TO AVOID THE AIRPORT RADAR SERVICE AREA. THE SINGLE ENGINE CESSNA WAS TRANSPONDER EQUIPPED BUT WITHOUT MODE C CAPABILITY. THE TWIN ENGINE CESSNA WAS EQUIPPED WITH, AND USING, A TRANSPONDER WITH MODE C CAPABILITY. THE RADAR DATA STUDY REVEALED THAT THE TWIN ENGINE CESSNA WAS DISPLAYED ON THE CONTROLLER'S RADAR SCOPE FOR ABOUT 4 MINUTES BEFORE THE COLLISON. THE CONTROLLER DID NOT WARN THE SINGLE ENGINE CESSNA PILOT OF THE CONVERGING TRAFFIC. THE TRACON WAS NOT PROGRAMMED TO ALERT THE CONTROLLER OF A CONFLICT BETWEEN A TRACKED (C-172) AND UNTRACKED (C-411) TARGET. ## Analysis (aircraft 1) A TWIN CESSNA COLLIDED WITH A SINGLE ENGINE CESSNA FROM THE SINGLE ENGINE CESSNA'S 7 O'CLOCK POSITION. THE SINGLE ENGINE CESSNA CRASHED AND THE TWIN CESSNA LANDED WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT. BOTH AIRPLANES WERE CONDUCTING VISUAL FLIGHT RULES PERSONAL FLIGHTS TO VAN NUYS, CA. THE SINGLE ENGINE CESSNA 172 WAS RECEIVING TRAFFIC ADVISORIES FROM BURBANK TRACON. THE TWIN ENGINE CESSNA HAD DEPARTED FULLERTON AND WAS FLYING A CIRCUITOUS ROUTE TO VAN NUYS IN ORDER TO AVOID THE AIRPORT RADAR SERVICE AREA. THE SINGLE ENGINE CESSNA WAS TRANSPONDER EQUIPPED BUT WITHOUT MODE C CAPABILITY. THE TWIN ENGINE CESSNA WAS EQUIPPED WITH, AND USING, A TRANSPONDER WITH MODE C CAPABILITY. THE RADAR DATA STUDY REVEALED THAT THE TWIN ENGINE CESSNA WAS DISPLAYED ON THE CONTROLLER'S RADAR SCOPE FOR ABOUT 4 MINUTES BEFORE THE COLLISION. THE CONTROLLER DID NOT WARN THE SINGLE ENGINE CESSNA PILOT OF THE CONVERGING TRAFFIC. THE TRACON WAS NOT PROGRAMMED TO ALERT THE CONTROLLER OF A CONFLICT BETWEEN A TRACKED (C-172) AND UNTRACKED (C-411) TARGET. ## Aircraft 1 - Registration: [N5113A](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5113A-2013-06-18), registration cancelled 2013-06-18, S/N 28113, built 1955 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 172 - Registry model: [Cessna 172](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172) (registry code 2072402) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental 0-300 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-300-series) (registry code 17022, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 28113 - Airframe hours: 3785 - Engines: CONTINENTAL O-300-A 145 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Kagarice, Robert H. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, March 22, 1987, 105 hours before - Departed: L66, CORONA, CA - Destination: VNY, VAN NUYS, CA - Airport: BUR, Burbank ## Aircraft 2 - Registration: [N63CA](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N63CA-1990-01-04), registration cancelled 1990-01-04, S/N 4110057 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 411 - Registry model: [Cessna 411](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-411) (registry code 2075902) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 411-0057 - Airframe hours: 2632 - Engines: CONTINENTAL GTSIO-520-C 340 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Contour Of California Ind. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, June 8, 1987, 31 hours before - Departed: FUL, FULLERTON, CA - Destination: VNY, VAN NUYS, CA - Airport: BUR, Burbank, runway 25, 6,074 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot, aircraft N5113A; age 44; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 1,138 total, 901 in this make and model, 931 as pilot in command, 68 in the last 90 days - Pilot, aircraft N63CA; age 40; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 1,610 total, 1,453 as pilot in command, 16 in the last 90 days, 11 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 50 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 19880123001132A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19880123001132A), Jan 23, 1988: Cessna 172, Burbank, CA, Destroyed, 2 fatal. Was struck from behind and empennage severed by 63CA not being tracked by ATC. - [Accident 19880123001131A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19880123001131A), Jan 23, 1988: Cessna 411, Burbank, CA, Minor damage. Overtook and struck from behind 5113A severing its empannage. 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.