# NTSB LAX94LA032: Cessna 172N, N8279E, Joshua Tree, CA, October 30, 1993 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: October 30, 1993, 07:30 local (14:30 UTC) - Place: Joshua Tree, CA - Coordinates: 34.149078, -116.270767 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.1491&lon=-116.2708&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report August 1, 1994 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 28585 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX94LA032 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/28585/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX94LA032 ## Probable cause the pilot's failure to maintain a proper descent rate on final approach. A factor in the accident was the student's limited total experience. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with terrain/water, approach - vfr pattern - final approach - terrain condition - berm - proper descent rate - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - lack of total experience, pilot in command (contributing factor) ## Analysis The 22 hour student pilot rented the aircraft to practice takeoff and landings. The pilot reported that all aspects of the approach were normal with a stabilized 400 feet per minute descent rate until the aircraft was about 200 feet AGL on short final. The pilot said that the aircraft suddenly encountered a strong sink rate accompanied by a loss of airspeed. The pilot said he immediately applied power and increased the pitch attitude; however, the descent rate could not be arrested prior to the aircraft's main landing gear colliding with a dirt berm about 30 feet short of the runway. ## Factual narrative On October 30, 1993, at 0730 Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 172N, N8279E, collided with a berm short of runway 24 during a landing undershoot at the Hi Desert Airport, Joshua Tree, California. A witness to the accident stated that the airplane touched down about 30 feet short of the runway threshold and contacted a small berm. The aircraft was owned and operated by the Hi Desert Airport and rented by the student pilot for a local solo instructional flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed. The aircraft incurred substantial damage. The student pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. The flight originated at the Hi Desert Airport on the day of the mishap at about 0715 hours as a local solo traffic pattern practice flight. In his written statement, the pilot reported that all aspects of the approach were normal with a stabilized 400 feet per minute descent rate until the aircraft was about 200 feet AGL on short final. The pilot said that the aircraft suddenly encountered a strong sink rate accompanied by a loss of airspeed. The pilot said he immediately applied power and increased the pitch attitude; however, the descent rate could not be arrested prior to the aircraft's main landing gear colliding with a dirt berm about 30 feet short of the runway. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8279E](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N8279E), registered now, S/N 17272166, built 1979 (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: 17272166 - Airframe hours: 2701 - Engines: LYCOMING O-360-A4M 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: Park W. Richardson - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, September 23, 1993, 23 hours before - Departed: L80 - Airport: L80, Hi Desert, runway 24, 2,600 × 50 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 50; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 22 total, 22 in this make and model, 1 as pilot in command, 10 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 30 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 46 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 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 19931030041239A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19931030041239A), Oct 30, 1993: Cessna 172N, Joshua Tree, CA, Substantial damage. Student reported unable to arrest high sinkrate on short final. Struck dirt berm 30 feet short of runway. 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.