# NTSB LAX97LA199: Cessna 172N, N6469D, El Monte, CA, May 7, 1997 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 7, 1997, 13:38 local (20:38 UTC) - Place: El Monte, CA - Location: 34.0860° N, 118.0348° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at SAN GABRIEL VALLEY (EMT), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.0860&lon=-118.0348&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 31, 1998 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 29802 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX97LA199 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/29802/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX97LA199 ## Probable cause the student pilot's misunderstanding of the controller's clearance during an aborted touch-and-go landing. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Overrun, takeoff - aborted - atc clearance - not understood, pilot in command (cause) - touch-and-go - aborted, pilot in command (cause) - On ground/water collision with object, takeoff - aborted - object - fence ## Analysis The student pilot reported that he had been practicing full stop landings after his previous three approaches. Following a 'cleared for the option' clearance, he elected to perform a touch-and-go landing. The student stated that it had taken a little longer for the airplane to touch down and begin the landing roll on the ground. He then applied full power and raised the flaps. The student stated that he thought the tower controller told him to get off the active runway immediately. He believed he had enough runway to stop, so he reduced power and attempted to stop the aircraft, but was unable before colliding with the perimeter fence. According to a recording of the communications, the controller advised the student to make a left turn off the runway when able, because there was an aircraft on short final. ## Factual narrative On May 7, 1997, at 1338 hours Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 172N, N6469D, was substantially damaged when the student pilot aborted takeoff, veered off to the right of the departure end of runway 19, and collided with the airport perimeter fence at the El Monte, California, airport. The aircraft was operated by Valley Flight Center of El Monte, and was on a local solo instructional flight. The student pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. The flight departed El Monte for the student's first supervised solo in the traffic pattern and was scheduled to terminate at that airport. The student pilot reported that he had been practicing full stop landings. Following a "cleared for the option" clearance from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) air traffic control tower, on the accident landing the student elected to perform a touch-and-go landing. The pilot stated that it had taken a little longer for the airplane to touch down and begin the landing roll on the ground. He then applied full power and raised the flaps. The student pilot stated that he heard the tower controller ask him to clear the active runway. The pilot reported that he believed he had enough runway to abort the takeoff and then reduce power. He attempted to stop the aircraft, but was unable to prior to colliding with the perimeter fence. A certified re-recording of air-ground voice communications tape was reviewed by the Safety Board. According to the tape, the controller had cleared the student pilot for landing with the touch-and-go option. The student pilot landed and the controller asked him to turn left when able and depart the active runway for an aircraft on short final. According to the student pilot's flight instructor, the student had made three full stop landings. On the last landing, the student pilot elected to perform a touch-and-go. The flight instructor, who reviewed the communications tapes, reported that the tower controller advised the student pilot to make a left turn off the runway when able due to traffic on short final. The student pilot thought that the controller had asked him to clear the active immediately due to landing traffic on short final. An FAA inspector from the Los Angeles, California, Flight Standards District Office, stated that no pre-existing anomalies were noted with the aircraft. The accident was reported to the Safety Board on June 3, 1997, after substantial damage to the aircraft was confirmed. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6469D](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6469D-2003-09-30), registration cancelled 2003-09-30, S/N 17272820, 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: 17272820 - Airframe hours: 5792 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-H2AD 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Valley Flight Center - Registered owner: Joel Marks - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, February 25, 1997 - Departed: EMT, CA - Airport: EMT, El Monte, runway 19, 3,995 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 34; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 66 total, 50 in this make and model, 2 as pilot in command, 20 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 210° at 8 knots - Visibility: 7 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: EMT ## 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 19970507039819A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970507039819A), May 7, 1997: Cessna 172N, El Monte, CA, Substantial damage. Believed ATC said abort on takeoff. Did so late. Ran off end runway. Hit fence. No abort was given. 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.