# NTSB LAX92LA281: Cessna 172K, N78669, Agua Caliente, CA, July 5, 1992

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: July 5, 1992, 09:15 local (16:15 UTC)
- Place: Agua Caliente, CA
- Coordinates: 32.719242, -115.879364 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.7192&lon=-115.8794&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor, 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report June 30, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 27677
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX92LA281
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/27677/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX92LA281

## Probable cause

THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN AN ADEQUATE APPROACH AIRSPEED AND AN INADVERTENT STALL/MUSH CONDITION WHICH RESULTED IN A COLLISION WITH THE GROUND SHORT OF THE RUNWAY. A FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT WAS THE PILOTS LACK OF TOTAL EXPERIENCE IN TYPE OF AIRCRAFT.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - in flight, approach - vfr pattern - final approach
  - airspeed(vref) - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - stall/mush - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
  - lack of total experience in type of aircraft, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

IN HIS WRITTEN STATEMENT THE PILOT SAID THAT HE LANDED AT THE AIRPORT AND TOOK OFF AGAIN TO PERFORM ONE MORE LANDING. ON SHORT FINAL APPROACH THE PILOT SAID HE DETERMINED THAT THE AIRCRAFT 'WAS SINKING TOO FAST AND WOULD LAND SHORT OF THE RUNWAY.' HE SAID THAT HE 'ADDED FULL POWER AND TRIED TO BRING THE NOSE UP,' BUT THE AIRCRAFT CONTINUED TO SETTLE AND STRUCK THE GROUND ABOUT 60 FEET SHORT OF THE RUNWAY. IN A VERBAL STATEMENT TO FAA INSPECTORS, THE PILOT SAID HE LET THE AIRCRAFT STALL ON SHORT FINAL. IN HIS WRITTEN STATEMENT, HE SAID THAT THE ACCIDENT COULD HAVE BEEN PREVENTED BY MAINTAINING A 'HIGHER APPROACH SPEED.'

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N78669](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N78669-1997-12-06), registration cancelled 1997-12-06, S/N 17257711 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172K
- Registry model: [Cessna 172K](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172k) (registry code 2072430) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 17257711
- Airframe hours: 2575
- Engines: LYCOMING O-360-A1A 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Cruise Air Aviation
- Registered owner: Cruise Air Aviation
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, April 15, 1992, 85 hours before
- Departed: L49, RAMONA, CA
- Airport: L54, Agua Caliente, runway 29, 2,500 × 60 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 21; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 87 total, 1 in this make and model, 40 as pilot in command, 5 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 270° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 90 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg

## 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 19920705023719A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19920705023719A), Jul 5, 1992: Cessna 172K, Agua Caliente S, CA, Substantial damage. Stalled on short final trying to recover from high sink rate. Impacted short of runway. Nosed over.

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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