- Date
- May 6, 1989, 02:46 local (09:46 UTC)
- Place
- Industry, CA
- Injuries
- 3 fatal
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- N6129ECessna 172
- Weather
- Instrument (IMC) · Night/dark
- Status
- Completed · report July 22, 1992
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19890506010869A
- Case key
- 26226
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The failure of the pilot to maintain an adequate altitude to ensure obstruction clearance. Factors related to the accident were: darkness, low ceiling, fog, and the pilot's continued flight into adverse weather conditions.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
A Cessna 172 collided with the static arm of a 150 foot tall tower used to support power transmission cables. Night instrument meteorological conditions prevailed at the time. The aircraft was seen traveling westbound paralleling a hwy. the aircraft was observed making a 180 degree turn and descending. The weather was described as foggy with at least 1 mile visibility. The aircraft was reported to turn left abruptly as it struck the tower. The cables and support towers were depicted on the sectional aeronautical chart and the VFR terminal area chart.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N6129E
- Reported as
- Cessna 172
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 46229
- Airframe hours
- 1,994
- Engine
- Continental O-300-A, 145 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Orville T. Stoll
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · February 21, 1989 · 19 hours before
- Departed
- P06 · Bullhead City, AZ
- Destination
- FUL · Fullerton, CA
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 33
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Left
- Toxicology
- Performed
- Flight hours
- 254 total · 19 in the last 90 days · 6 in the last 30 days · 5 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Instrument (IMC) · Night/dark
- Wind
- Calm
- Visibility
- 2 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 1,000 ft overcast
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.