# NTSB LAX89LA208: Cessna 172N, N737WR, Sacramento, CA, May 30, 1989 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 30, 1989, 06:35 local (13:35 UTC) - Place: Sacramento, CA - Coordinates: 38.510848, -121.489028 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.5108&lon=-121.4890&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 3 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 22, 1990 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 26420 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX89LA208 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/26420/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX89LA208 ## Probable cause (aircraft 2) THE PILOT OF THE OTHER AIRCRAFT DISPLAYED POOR JUDGEMENT WHEN HE ELECTED TO CONTINUE TAXIING IN THE RUNUP AREA WHEN VISUAL LOOKOUT COULD NOT BE MAINTAINED. ## Probable cause (aircraft 1) THE PILOT DISPLAYED POOR JUDGEMENT IN CONTINUING TO TAXI WHEN A VISUAL LOOKOUT COULD NOT BE MAINTAINED. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - On ground/water collision with object, taxi - to takeoff - light condition - sunglare (contributing factor) - judgment - poor, pilot in command (cause) - object - aircraft parked/standing (contributing factor) - visual lookout - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - On ground/water collision with object, standing - engine(s) operating - object - aircraft moving on ground (contributing factor) - judgment - poor, pilot of other aircraft (cause) - light condition - sunglare (contributing factor) - visual lookout - not maintained, pilot of other aircraft (cause) ## Analysis (aircraft 2) WHILE PARKED IN THE RUNUP AREA, PREPARING TO TAKEOFF FROM R UNWAY 22, THE AIRCRAFT WAS RUN INTO BY A CESSNA 172N THAT WAS TAXIING INTO THE AREA. THE PILOT OF THE OTHER AIRCRAFT STATED THAT HE DID NOT REALIZE HOW THE RISING SUN OBSCURED THE RUNUP AREA AND NEVER SAW THE 177RG THAT HE RAN INTO. ## Analysis (aircraft 1) WHILE TAXIING TO THE RUN-UP AREA, THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THE SUN HAD JUST RISEN AND VISIBILITY WAS RESTRICTED. THE PILOT WAS TRYING TO POSITION THE AIRPLANE IN THE RUN-UP AREA WHEN HIS AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH ANOTHER AIRPLANE ALREADY IN THE RUN-UP AREA. ## Aircraft 1 - Registration: [N737WR](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N737WR), registered now, S/N 17269735, built 1977 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 172N - Registry model: [Cessna 172N](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172n) (registry code 2072434) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17269735 - Airframe hours: 1293 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320-H2AD 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Minor damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Flight Operations Inc. - Registered owner: Aero Flete - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, May 23, 1989, 1,293 hours before - Destination: 051, LINCOLN, CA - Airport: SAC, Sacramento, runway 20, 5,503 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Aircraft 2 - Registration: [N1844Q](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N1844Q), registered now, S/N 177RG0244, built 1972 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 177RG - Registry model: [Cessna 177RG](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-177rg) (registry code 2073709) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-360-A1B6D](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-360-a1b6d) (registry code 41593, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 177RG0244 - Airframe hours: 4740 - Engines: LYCOMING IO-360-A1B6 200 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Executive Flyers - Registered owner: Folk, Daniel M. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, April 30, 1989, 28 hours before - Airport: SAC, Sacramento, runway 20, 5,503 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot, aircraft N737WR; age 19; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 280 total, 38 in this make and model, 246 as pilot in command, 74 in the last 90 days, 36 in the last 30 days - Pilot, aircraft N1844Q; age 26; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: right; flight hours: 750 total, 300 in this make and model, 700 as pilot in command, 80 in the last 90 days, 25 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 50 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 52 °F, dew point 48 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: SAC ## 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 19890530013472A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19890530013472A), May 30, 1989: Cessna 172N, Sacramento, CA, Minor damage. Blinded by rising sun, taxied into Cessna 1844Q that had stopped on the runup pad. - [Accident 19890530013471A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19890530013471A), May 30, 1989: Cessna 177RG, Sacramento, CA, Substantial damage. While waiting on runup pad,was struck by N737WR that was taxiing onto runup pad. Pilot of N737WR was blinded by sun ## Other investigations on N737WR (1) 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 LAX96LA227](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX96LA227), Jun 9, 1996: Cessna 172N (N737WR), Prescott, AZ, substantial damage. Probable cause: The failure of the pilot to adequately compensate for gusty crosswind conditions, which resulted in loss of aircraft control. 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.