# NTSB LAX94LA350: Cessna 172M, N9699Q, Rescue, CA, September 4, 1994 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 4, 1994, 14:30 local (21:30 UTC) - Place: Rescue, CA - Coordinates: 38.719017, -121.000801 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.7190&lon=-121.0008&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 2 minor - Status: Completed, report April 25, 1995 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 28851 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX94LA350 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/28851/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX94LA350 ## Probable cause THE PILOT'S DELAYED GO-AROUND. HIS INADEQUATE COMPENSATION FOR THE WIND WAS A FACTOR. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with object, go-around (vfr) - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, pilot in command (contributing factor) - go-around - delayed, pilot in command (cause) - object - wind sock/indicator ## Analysis DURING THE LANDING FLARE, THE PILOT LOST DIRECTIONAL CONTROL, AND THE AIRPLANE DRIFTED TO THE LEFT OF THE RUNWAY. THE PILOT MADE A GO-AROUND. DURING THE GO-AROUND, THE AIRPLANE STRUCK A WINDSOCK AND THEN COLLIDED WITH THE TERRAIN. ACCORDING TO THE OWNERS MANUAL, THE AIRPLANE WAS CAPABLE OF CLIMBING AT 640 FPM. ## Factual narrative On September 4, 1994, at 1430 hours Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 172M, N9699Q, collided with a windsock pole and crashed while attempting a go-around on runway 19 at a privately owned dirt airstrip near Rescue, California. The pilot was conducting a visual flight rules personal flight. The airplane, registered to and operated by T. Byers, Los Gatos, California, sustained substantial damage. The certificated private pilot and his passenger received minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The flight originated at Livermore Airport, Livermore, California, at 1330 hours. The pilot told National Transportation Safety Board investigators in a telephone interview conducted on September 12, 1994, that during the landing flare the airplane drifted to the left. When the left main gear was over the left side of the runway, he applied power and began a go-around. During the initial climb, the airplane collided with a windsock pole. He also said that the terrain slopes upward toward the south. The prevailing temperature was 75 degrees fahrenheit (23.9 degrees Celsius.) The pilot reiterated his telephone statement in the accident report he submitted to the Safety Board. In the accident report, the pilot showed the temperature was 85 degrees Fahrenheit (29.4 degrees Celsius.) He also indicated that the airplane did not experience any mechanical malfunctions or failures. According to the Cessna 172M Owner's Manual, the airplane at maximum gross weight can climb about 700 feet/minute at mean sea level (msl). At 5,000 feet mean sea level, the airplane can climb about 450 feet/minute. This data is based on standard temperature. (See Rate of Climb Graph as an exhibit of this report.) The owner's manual also shows that the airplane's climb capability is decreased 20 feet/minute for every 10 degrees Fahrenheit above standard. At 1,450 feet msl the standard temperature is 54 degrees Fahrenheit. Therefore, according to the owner's manual, the airplane was capable of climbing about 640 feet/minute at the time of the accident. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9699Q](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9699Q-2012-11-26), registration cancelled 2012-11-26, S/N 17265783, built 1975 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 172M - Registry model: [Cessna 172M](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172m) (registry code 2072418) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17265783 - Airframe hours: 3482 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320-E2D 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Same As Registered Owner - Registered owner: Byers, Ted S. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, March 8, 1994, 50 hours before - Departed: LVK, LIVERMORE, CA - Airport: Private, runway 19, 1,600 × 28 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 30; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 101 total, 101 in this make and model, 61 as pilot in command, 34 in the last 90 days, 21 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 285° at 8 knots - Visibility: 20 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 84 °F ## 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 19940904025529A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19940904025529A), Sep 4, 1994: Cessna 172M, Cameron Park, CA, Substantial damage. Drifted off runway centerline on landing. Began go around and collided with windsock pole. ## Other investigations on N9699Q (1) 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. - [NTSB LAX83LA255](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX83LA255), May 30, 1983: Cessna 172M (N9699Q), Willits, CA, substantial damage 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.