# NTSB LAX97LA239: Cessna 172, N8189B, Aguiguan Island, Mauritius, July 4, 1997 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 4, 1997 - Place: Aguiguan Island, Mauritius - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 4, 1998 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 29834 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX97LA239 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/29834/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX97LA239 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain runway alignment while landing on an undeveloped private dirt strip. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with object, landing - flare/touchdown - proper alignment - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - object - tree(s) ## Analysis A witness reported that the pilot had returned to the island airstrip to pick up passengers. The aircraft landed and swerved to the left cutting the tops of the Tangantangan trees. The pilot refused to submit a written statement to the Safety Board. In an interview with the FAA, the pilot reported that he was carrying supplies to the island for the workers who were clearing a wider path for the aircraft to land on. On final approach the pilot lined up left of the runway, clipping trees with the left wing. FAA records disclosed that the pilot was denied a medical in 1996. ## Factual narrative On July 4, 1997, at approximately 0930 hours local island time, a Cessna 172, N8189B, struck trees while attempting to land on a dirt strip on Aguiguan Island, Marianas Protectorate. The aircraft sustained substantial damage, and the pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions existed for the personal flight that originated from Saipan International Airport, Saipan, Marianas, at 0824. A witness to the accident reported that the day before the accident, the pilot had taken some passengers to Aguiguan Island. He was returning to pick them up the day the accident occurred. The witness confirmed that the aircraft landed and swerved to the left, cutting the tops of the Tangantangan trees. The pilot declined to submit a written statement to the National Transportation Safety Board. An Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector from the Honolulu, Hawaii, Flight Standards District Office, interviewed the pilot. The pilot reported that he was carrying supplies to Aguiguan Island for the workers, who were clearing a wider path for the aircraft to land on. He stated that he lined up left of the runway and clipped trees with the left wing. The aircraft was pulled into the trees and to the left side of the runway by each succeeding contact with trees. The aircraft veered off the runway into deep brush and came to rest when it hit a hidden log. FAA medical records disclosed that the pilot's application for a medical in December 1996 was denied. The pilot reported to the FAA inspector that he did not have a current medical certificate and had flown over 100 flights without a current medical certificate. The pilot stated that he would continue to fly, and, if his U.S. license was revoked, he would activate his Mexican license, get a Mexican medical, and bring in a Mexican registered aircraft to fly to the Island. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8189B](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8189B-2020-05-02), registration cancelled 2020-05-02, S/N 29989, built 1957 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 172 - Registry model: [Cessna 172](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172) (registry code 2072402) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental 0-300 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-300-series) (registry code 17022, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 29989 - Engines: Continental O-300 145 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Guy Gabaldon - Registered owner: Yoshio Gabaldon - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: SAIPAN - Airport: Private Dirt Strip ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 71; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; flight hours: 4,000 total, 150 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day ## 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 19970704018239A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970704018239A), Jul 4, 1997: Cessna 172, Aguiguan Island, Northern Mariana Islands, Substantial damage. Swerved off strip landing into trees and hit a log. Pilot not cooperative with FAA investigation. ## Other investigations on N8189B (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 FTW71FPA22](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW71FPA22), Feb 21, 1971: Cessna 172 (N8189B), Terrell, TX, 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.