# NTSB LAX90LA287: Cessna 172P, N9551L, Coalinga, CA, August 11, 1990

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: August 11, 1990, 15:30 local (22:30 UTC)
- Place: Coalinga, CA
- Coordinates: 36.190792, -120.390815 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.1908&lon=-120.3908&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report November 9, 1992
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 26893
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX90LA287
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/26893/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX90LA287

## Probable cause

THE FAILURE OF THE STUDENT PILOT TO ACCURATELY INTERPRET THE WIND SOCK, AND HIS INADVERTENT ATTEMPT TO PERFORM A DOWNWIND LANDING.

## Sequence of events

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

- Overrun, landing - roll
  - weather condition - tailwind (contributing factor)
  - weather evaluation - inaccurate, pilot in command (cause)
  - wrong runway - selected, pilot in command (cause)
- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll
  - terrain condition - ditch

## Analysis

ACCORDING TO GROUND WITNESSES AT THE AIRPORT, THE AIRCRAFT LANDED DOWNWIND ON RUNWAY 19. THE AIRCRAFT WAS OBSERVED TO TOUCH DOWN ON THE FIRST THIRD OF THE 4,100 FOOT LONG RUNWAY, TRAVEL THE FULL LENGTH OF THE PAVEMENT, THEN SKID OFF THE DEPARTURE END AND INTO A DITCH. HEAVY SKID MARKS WERE REPORTED ON THE LAST SEVERAL HUNDRED FEET OF THE PAVEMENT. THE STUDENT PILOT STATED THAT HE MISINTERPETED THE WIND SOCK INDICATIONS.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N9551L](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9551L-2019-11-04), registration cancelled 2019-11-04, S/N 17276576, built 1986 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172P
- Registry model: [Cessna 172P](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172p) (registry code 2072436) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 17272709
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-D2J 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: King Aviation Center, Inc.
- Departed: PTV, PORTERVILLE, CA
- Flight plan: VFR
- Airport: CLG, Coalinga, runway 19, 4,140 × 60 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 28; student; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; flight hours: 78 total, 78 in this make and model, 44 in the last 90 days, 20 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 10° at 18 knots, gusting 21
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: -0 °F, dew point -0 °F
- Observed at: PTV, 59 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 19900811033039A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19900811033039A), Aug 11, 1990: Cessna 172P, Coalinga, CA, Substantial damage. Landed in strong gusty tailwind. Unable to stop skidded off end of runway into a ditch. Misread wind sock.

## Other investigations on N9551L (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 WPR14LA147](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR14LA147), Mar 26, 2014: Cessna 172P (N9551L), Inarajan, substantial damage. Probable cause: A total loss of engine power during cruise flight for reasons that could not be determined because postaccident examination did not reveal any anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.

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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