- Date
- July 24, 1993, 13:50 local (20:50 UTC)
- Place
- Vacaville, CA
- Injuries
- 4 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Approach
- Aircraft
- N51409Cessna 172
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report November 15, 1993
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19930724025409A
- Case key
- 27985
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 pilot's improper in-flight planning/decision by failing to allow enough time for the rotor wash to dissipate before attempting the approach. The wake turbulence (rotor wash) was a factor in this accident.
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
The local controller cleared the flight for a straight in approach to runway 20 to follow a large helicopter. The controller cautioned the pilot of possible existing wake turbulence. While nearing the threshold the airplane encountered some turbulence and the pilot initiated a go around. During the go around the airplane encountered more severe turbulence and could not control the airplane. The airplane struck the runway and skidded to a stop. The pilot reported that the surface winds were from 180 degrees at 10 knots, gusting to 15 knots.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N51409
- Reported as
- Cessna 172
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 17274309
- Airframe hours
- 3,101
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320-D2J, 150 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Other work use · Part 91
- Operator
- Pacific Flight Services
- Registered owner
- Loosley, Wilfred & Rodney
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Continuous airworthiness · July 22, 1993 · 8 hours before
- Airport
- O45 · Nut Tree, runway 20, 3,800 × 75 ft, asphalt
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
- 43
- Certificates
- Commercial, Flight instructor
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine sea, Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 2,152 total · 325 in this make and model · 2,124 as pilot in command · 10 in the last 90 days · 5 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 180° at 10 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility
- 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 95 °F
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.