# NTSB LAX96LA077: Cessna 172, N73303, Bakersfield, CA, December 23, 1995

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: December 22, 1995, 19:15 local (Dec 23, 1995, 03:15 UTC)
- Place: Bakersfield, CA
- Coordinates: 35.200916, -118.859344 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.2009&lon=-118.8593&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 4 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report March 21, 1996
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 29356
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX96LA077
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/29356/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX96LA077

## Probable cause

the pilot's improper aborted landing procedure which resulted in the aircraft stalling and impacting terrain.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of control - in flight, landing - aborted
  - aborted landing - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - stall/mush - encountered, pilot in command
  - lack of total experience in type operation, pilot in command
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled
  - terrain condition - grass

## Analysis

DURING AN ATTEMPTED GO-AROUND FOLLOWING AN ABORTED LANDING, THE AIRCRAFT STALLED AT 15 FEET ALTITUDE, IMPACTED THE TERRAIN, AND NOSED OVER.  THE PILOT REPORTED THAT A GUST OF CROSSWIND CAUSED THE AIRCRAFT TO DRIFT OFF THE RUNWAY NECESSITATING THE GO-AROUND WHICH HE ATTEMPTED WITH FULL FLAPS EXTENDED.  THE PILOT REPORTED 4 HOURS TOTAL NIGHT FLYING EXPERIENCE PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT FLIGHT, AND HAD PERFORMED THREE SOLO NIGHT TAKEOFFS AND LANDINGS TO REGAIN NIGHT CURRENCY IMMEDIATELY PRIOR TO LOADING HIS PASSENGERS.

## Factual narrative

On December 22, 1995, at 1915 hours Pacific standard time, a Cessna 172, N73303, contacted the terrain and nosed over during an aborted landing on runway 34 at Bakersfield Municipal Airport, Bakersfield, California.  The aircraft was substantially damaged; however, the private pilot and three passengers were not injured. No flight plan was filed for the local area personal flight which had departed at 1800 hours.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed.

The operator, who rented the aircraft to the pilot, told the NTSB investigator that the pilot first performed three takeoffs and landings in the aircraft alone to regain night proficiency.  He then loaded three passengers for the local area flight.

The operator stated that after the accident the pilot told him that he had made a normal landing approach with full flaps.  During the landing flare the aircraft started to drift to the right off the runway and the pilot initiated a go-around without retracting the flaps.  The aircraft stalled at 15 feet altitude, the left wing contacted the ground, and the aircraft nosed over.  In his report to the NTSB the pilot attributed drifting off the runway to a gust of crosswind.  He reported 4 hours total night time prior to the accident flight.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N73303](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N73303-2000-08-29), registration cancelled 2000-08-29, S/N 17267358 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172
- Registry model: [Cessna 172M](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172m) (registry code 2072418) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 17267358
- Airframe hours: 6500
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-E2D 150 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: C&B Flying Service
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal; Standard, Utility
- Last inspection: 100 hour, September 1, 1995, 86 hours before
- Departed: L45
- Airport: L45, Bakersfield Municipal, runway 34, 4,000 × 75 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 27; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 52 total, 7 in this make and model, 32 as pilot in command, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/bright
- Wind: 350° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 7,500 ft broken
- Temperature: 50 °F, dew point 41 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: BFL, 7 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 (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19951222042459A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19951222042459A), Dec 22, 1995: Cessna 172M, Bakersfield, CA, Substantial damage. Drifted on night landing. Began go round with full flaps. Stalled at 15FT AGL. Nosed over. Total night ops 4HRS.

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.

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