# NTSB LAX88LA072: Cessna 172, N7970B, Fallbrook, CA, December 20, 1987

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: December 20, 1987, 15:00 local (23:00 UTC)
- Place: Fallbrook, CA
- Coordinates: 33.390251, -117.209503 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.3903&lon=-117.2095&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 2 serious
- Status: Completed, report January 11, 1989
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 25922
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX88LA072
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/25922/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX88LA072

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - in flight, go-around (vfr)
  - communications - inadequate, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - visual lookout - not maintained, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - wrong runway - selected, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - airspeed - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - stall/mush - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, go-around (vfr)
  - object - tree(s) (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE PLT STATED THAT WHILE ON SHORT FINAL TO RWY 36, APPROX 5 TO 6 FT AGL OVR THE RWY, HE NOTICED ANOTHER ACFT APPROACHING FM THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION. HE INITIATED A CLIMBING RIGHT TURN AND COLLIDED WITH A TREE LOCATED ABT 150 FT TO THE RIGHT OF THE RWY CENTERLINE. WITNESSES INDICATED THAT THE WIND FAVORED RWY 18 AND THAT THE PROXIMITY OF THE TWO ACFT WAS NOT A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR TO THE ACCD. THE PLT OF THE OTHER ACFT STATED THAT THE UNICOM OPERATOR ADVISED HIM THAT THE WIND FAVORED THE USE OF RWY 18 AND THAT HE TRANSMITTED HIS POSITION ON THE UNICOM FREQUENCY ON BOTH BASE AND FINAL FOR RWY 18. HE ALSO ADDED THAT HE OBSERVED N7970B SHORTLY AFTER IT HAD LIFTED OFF OF RWY 36 AND THAT IT 'APPEARED TO HAVE AN UNUSUALLY HIGH ANGLE OF ATTACK, WENT INTO A RIGHT BANK, AND THEN APPEARED TO STALL...'

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N7970B](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7970B-2013-05-09), registration cancelled 2013-05-09, S/N 29770, built 1957 (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: 29770
- Airframe hours: 6964
- Engines: CONTINENTAL O-300-A 145 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Michael J. Bolduc
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, September 3, 1987, 90 hours before
- Airport: L18, Fallbrook, runway 36, 2,160 × 70 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 41; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 779 total, 657 in this make and model, 712 as pilot in command, 17 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 270° at 8 knots
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 70 °F, dew point -0 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: CRQ, 13 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 19871220080659A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19871220080659A), Dec 20, 1987: Cessna 172, Fallbrook, CA, Destroyed. Aborted landing when pilot saw aircraft landing opposite direction. Collided with a tree on the go around.

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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