- Date
- February 12, 1994, 13:15 local (21:15 UTC)
- Place
- New Cuyama, CA
- Injuries
- 1 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N7333GCessna 172K
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report November 14, 1994
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19940212002089A
- Case key
- 28664
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 inadequate compensation for the existing wind conditions and his failure to maintain directional control of the aircraft.
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 pilot reported that he was landing uphill on the private airstrip with a gusting left crosswind. The pilot said that he lost control after touchdown and the aircraft ground looped, damaging the wings and landing gear.
Factual narrative
On February 12, 1994, at 1315 Pacific standard time, a Cessna 172K, N7333G, ground looped on landing at a private airstrip near New Cuyama, California. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed for the operation. The aircraft incurred substantial damage. The certificated private pilot, the sole occupant, sustained minor injuries. The flight originated at Santa Monica, California, on the day of the mishap at 1158 as a personal cross-country flight to the accident site.
In a telephone interview, the pilot reported that he was landing uphill on the private airstrip with a gusting left crosswind. The pilot said that he lost control after touchdown and the aircraft ground looped, damaging the wings and landing gear.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N7333G
- Reported as
- Cessna 172K
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 17259033
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320-E2D, 150 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Denys M. Leigh-Taylor
- Registered owner
- Herve Lacorne
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal; Special, Provisional (Special)
- Departed
- SMO · Santa Monica, CA
- Airport
- NONE · Private Ranch Airstrip, runway 20, 1,600 × 40 ft, dirt
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
- 48
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 144 total · 57 in this make and model · 31 as pilot in command · 5 in the last 90 days · 5 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 290° at 7 knots
- Visibility
- 35 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 63 °F, dew point 28 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- SMX, 40 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.