# NTSB LAX93FA007: Cessna 172M, N80780, Fairfield, CA, October 11, 1992

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: October 10, 1992, 19:47 local (Oct 11, 1992, 02:47 UTC)
- Place: Fairfield, CA
- Coordinates: 38.280979, -121.920234 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.2810&lon=-121.9202&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal, 2 serious
- Status: Completed, report August 5, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 27804
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX93FA007
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/27804/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX93FA007

## Probable cause

THE PILOT'S DELAY IN INITIATING A GO-AROUND DURING A NIGHT LANDING. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE PILOT MISJUDGING DISTANCE AND SPEED RESULTING A OVERSHOOTING THE TOUCHDOWN, THE NIGHT LIGHT CONDITION, HIS LACK OF NIGHT FLYING EXPERIENCE IN A CESSNA 172, AND HIS FAILURE TO TURN OFF THE CARBURETOR HEAT DURING THE GO-AROUND.

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight collision with object, landing - aborted
  - light condition - bright night (contributing factor)
  - distance - misjudged, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - airspeed - misjudged, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - lack of familiarity with aircraft, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - proper touchdown point - not attained, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - go-around - delayed, pilot in command (cause)
  - carburetor heat - improper use of, pilot in command (contributing factor)

## Analysis

WITNESSES REPORTED THAT THE AIRPLANE TOUCHED DOWN ABOUT HALF WAY DOWN THE 2,000 FT RUNWAY. THE PILOT ADDED POWER AND EXECUTED A GO-AROUND. THE AIRPLANE STRUCK A POWER POLE LOCATED 38 FT ABOVE THE RUNWAY ELEVATION AND 958 FT FROM THE DEPARTURE END OF THE RUNWAY. THE AIRPLANE CAME TO REST INVERTED IN AN ADJACENT FIELD. THE FLAPS WERE FOUND DOWN 10 DEG AND THE CARBURETOR HEAT WAS IN THE ON POSITION. THE PILOT HAD NOT RECORDED ANY NIGHT FLYING EXPERIENCE IN THE ACCIDENT AIRPLANE.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N80780](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N80780-1993-09-21), registration cancelled 1993-09-21, S/N 17266744 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172M
- Registry model: [Cessna 172M](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172m) (registry code 2072418) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 17266744
- Airframe hours: 4012
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-E2D 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Travis A.F.B. Aero Club
- Registered owner: Frank Levengood
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, September 15, 1992, 40 hours before
- Departed: SMF, SACRAMENTO, CA
- Airport: 8Q0, Travis Afb Aero Club Arpt, runway 4, 2,000 × 50 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 30; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 405 total, 6 in this make and model, 27 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/bright
- Wind: 210° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 46 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: SUU, 1 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 19921010041529A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19921010041529A), Oct 10, 1992: Cessna 172M, Fairfield, CA, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Landed long and fast. Began belated go around. Struck power pole off end runway. Carb heat on. Failed to climb.

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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