# NTSB LAX95LA239: Cessna 182A, N4824D, Paso Robles, CA, June 18, 1995 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 17, 1995, 17:15 local (Jun 18, 1995, 00:15 UTC) - Place: Paso Robles, CA - Coordinates: 35.609683, -120.760757 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.6097&lon=-120.7608&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 6 uninjured - Status: Completed, report February 8, 1996 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 29140 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX95LA239 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/29140/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX95LA239 ## Probable cause (aircraft 2) FAILURE OF THE GREAT LAKES PILOT TO SEE-AND-AVOID THE CESSNA 182. THE SUN GLARE WAS A RELATED FACTOR. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Collision between aircraft (other than midair), taxi - to takeoff - light condition - sunglare (contributing factor) - visual lookout - inadequate, pilot of other aircraft (cause) - Collision between aircraft (other than midair), taxi - from landing - light condition - sunglare (contributing factor) - visual lookout - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis (aircraft 2) TWO AIRPLANES WERE CONVERGING HEAD-ON WHILE TAXIING ON THE SAME EAST-WEST TAXIWAY. THE PILOT OF THE CESSNA 182 WAS TAXIING EAST AND SAW THE TAILWHEEL EQUIPPED GREAT LAKES 2T-1AK (BIPLANE) 'S-TURNING' ON THE TAXIWAY. SHE ASSUMED THE BIPLANE PILOT SAW HER AIRCRAFT. AS THE TWO AIRPLANES GOT CLOSER, THE CESSNA PILOT SLOWED AND MOVED TO THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE TAXIWAY, SO THE AIRPLANES COULD PASS WING TIP TO WING TIP. THE WESTBOUND BIPLANE THEN 'S-TURNED' LEFT TOWARDS THE CESSNA. THE CESSNA PILOT IMMEDIATELY VEERED RIGHT AND TAXIED OFF THE PAVEMENT INTO THE DIRT, BUT THE AIRPLANES COLLIDED. AFTER THE COLLISION, THE WESTBOUND BIPLANE PILOT STATED TO AIRPORT OFFICIALS THAT HE NEVER SAW THE CESSNA. THE SUN WAS SETTING AT THE TIME OF THE COLLISION. ## Factual narrative (aircraft 2) On June 17, 1995, at 1715 hours Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 182A, N4824D, collided with a Ball Great Lakes 2T-1AK, NC823K, on taxiway C at the Paso Robles Municipal Airport, Paso Robles, California. The Cessna 182A was being operated as a business flight transporting skydivers by Blue Sky Adventures of Paso Robles, under 14 CFR Part 91. The Great Lakes was being operated by the pilot/owner as a personal flight. Both airplanes were substantially damaged. There were no injuries to the pilot and three skydivers onboard the Cessna, and no injuries to the pilot and passenger of the Great Lakes. Both airplanes were operating locally from the Paso Robles Municipal Airport. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The pilot of the Cessna entered taxiway C from the ramp area with the intention of taxiing east to runway 19 for departure. The Great Lakes pilot entered taxiway C and taxied west from the runway after the Cessna was already on taxiway C. The pilot of the Cessna moved to the right side of the taxiway and anticipated the pilot of the Great Lakes would do the same, allowing the airplanes to pass each other. The pilot of the Cessna began to slow to a stop when she observed the Great Lakes pilot continue on the center of the taxiway. The Great Lakes pilot then initiated a clearing turn to the right followed by a turn to the left. The Cessna pilot immediately turned the airplane right, off the taxiway, to avoid the collision. The flying wires of the Great Lakes left wing struck the left wing of the Cessna and became entangled. The Great Lakes then nosed down, striking the asphalt surface of the taxiway with the wooden propeller. The left wing of the Cessna was twisted as a result of the entangled flying wires of the Great Lakes. The pilot of the Great Lakes indicated to the Paso Robles Airport manager and the Cessna pilot, that he never saw the Cessna. It was noted that the sun was beginning to set at the time of the accident. ## Aircraft 1 - Registration: [N4824D](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4824D-1999-10-25), registration cancelled 1999-10-25, S/N 34924 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 182A - Registry model: [Cessna 182A](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-182a) (registry code 2072704) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18234924 - Airframe hours: 3575 - Engines: CONTINENTAL O-470-L 230 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Part 91 - Operator: Dougherty, Daniel H., doing business as Preferred Rigging - Registered owner: Blue Sky Adventures - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, April 17, 1995, 65 hours before - Departed: PRB - Airport: PRB, Paso Robles ## Aircraft 2 - Registration: [N823K](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N823K-2021-04-24), registration cancelled 2021-04-24, S/N 1020, built 1993 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BALL GREAT LAKES 2T-1AK (GREAT LAKE) - Registry model: [Ball AL GREAT LAKES 2T-1AK](https://openairdocs.org/model/ball-al-great-lakes-2t-1ak) (registry code 056451A) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Amateur-built UNKNOWN ENG](https://openairdocs.org/engine/amateur-built-unknown-eng) (registry code 99999) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 1002 - Airframe hours: 325 - Engines: KINNER R-540-3 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Albert B. Ball - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Departed: SZP, SANTA PAULA, CA - Destination: PRB - Airport: PRB, Paso Robles ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot, aircraft N4824D; age 23; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 630 total, 320 in this make and model, 580 as pilot in command, 107 in the last 90 days, 57 in the last 30 days, 6 in the last 24 hours - Pilot, aircraft N823K; age 54; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: rear; flight hours: 3,347 total, 325 in this make and model, 3,347 as pilot in command, 57 in the last 90 days, 40 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 50 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 48 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg ## FAA reports on this event (2) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 19950617022672A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950617022672A), Jun 17, 1995: Cessna 182A, Paso Robles, CA, Substantial damage. Taxiing to runway collided with N823K taxiing opposite direction on same taxiway. Tried avoid but was hit anyway. - [Accident 19950617030501A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950617030501A), Jun 17, 1995: Grtlks 2T1A, Paso Robles, CA, Substantial damage. Taxiing to ramp collided with N48240 taxing opposite direction on same taxiway. S turned. Blamed sun blinded. ## Other investigations on N4824D (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 LAX99FA220](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX99FA220), Jun 19, 1999: Cessna 182A (N4824D), Paso Robles, CA, destroyed, 4 fatal. Probable cause: the pilot's failure to set the trim as prescribed by the published check list. This led to a steep climb angle which caused the airspeed to decay, resulting in a stall at an altitude too low to allow… 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.