# NTSB LAX99LA213: Cessna 172, N5577E, Weaverville, CA, June 10, 1999 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 9, 1999, 18:00 local (Jun 10, 1999, 01:00 UTC) - Place: Weaverville, CA - Coordinates: 40.739887, -122.929168 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.7399&lon=-122.9292&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 22, 2000 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 46502 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX99LA213 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/46502/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX99LA213 ## Probable cause the pilot's failure to follow prescribed procedures and directives for the particular airport. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with terrain/water, go-around (vfr) - terrain condition - rising - weather condition - unfavorable wind - go-around - improper, pilot in command (cause) - remedial action - improper, pilot in command (cause) - procedures/directives - not followed, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis The private pilot reported that he obtained his license so that he could make routine trips of a 100 plus miles over mountainous terrain for business. He had made the roundtrip several times but had never landed at any of the four alternate airports along the route. On the day of the accident he decided to take a friend with him on this routine trip and checkout the airports on the way back. The first airport was closed so they overflew the runway at 500 agl. They landed at the second airport, then departed. At the third airport they performed a touch-and-go landing. The pilot informed his passenger that they would not be landing at the fourth airport, but instead they would perform a low-level flyby. During the pilot's training his flight instructor had informed him that the accident airport was a one-way runway due to obstructions at the north end. According to published information you land on runway 36 and take off on runway 18 due to rising terrain and unfavorable winds. During the low-level flyby of runway 36, about 15 to 20 feet agl, the pilot reported that he experienced a strong downdraft, and subsequently during the attempted go-around into rising terrain, the airplane collided with trees. The pilot reported that the wind was 300 degrees at 10 knots. The density altitude was calculated about 3,773 feet. ## Factual narrative On June 9, 1999, about 1800 hours Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 172, N5577E, operated by Hillside Aviation, Inc., Redding, California, was substantially damaged in a collision with trees during a go-around at the Weaverville, California, airport. Neither the private pilot nor the passenger was injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal flight operating under 14 CFR Part 91. The flight originated at Redding about 1230 with a 3-hour stop at Eureka, California, and subsequent stops at Hyampom and Hayfork. The 60-hour private pilot reported that he obtained his license so that he could make routine trips of a 100 plus miles over mountainous terrain for business. He had made the roundtrip several times but had never landed at any of the four alternate airports along the route. On the day of the accident he decided to take a friend with him on this routine trip and checkout the airports on the way back. The first airport was closed so they overflew the runway at 500 agl. They landed at the second airport, then departed. At the third airport they performed a touch-and-go landing. The pilot informed his passenger that they would not be landing at the fourth airport, Weaverville, but instead they would perform a low-level flyby. According to the pilot, during his training the flight instructor had informed him that the accident airport was a one-way runway due to obstructions at the north end. According to published information you land on runway 36 and take off on runway 18 due to rising terrain and unfavorable winds. During the low-level flyby of runway 36 at Weaverville, the pilot reported that he experienced a strong downdraft about 15 to 20 feet above the runway, and he attempted a go-around into rising terrain with a slight crosswind. The airplane collided with trees about 500 feet beyond the runway end. The pilot reported that the wind was 300 degrees at 10 knots. The density altitude was calculated about 3,773 feet. Runway 36 has a 3.8 percent upgrade. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5577E](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5577E-2009-01-14), registration cancelled 2009-01-14, S/N 17271892, built 1978 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 172 - 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: 17271892 - Airframe hours: 4393 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-H2AD 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Hillside Aviation - Registered owner: Steve And Rebecca Miller - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, September 7, 1998, 84 hours before - Departed: Q72, HAYFORK, CA - Destination: O85, REDDING, CA - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: 054, Weaverville, runway 36, 2,980 × 50 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 39; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 60 total, 60 in this make and model, 26 as pilot in command, 30 in the last 90 days, 14 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 300° at 10 knots - Visibility: 50 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 75 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg ## 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 19990609043209A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990609043209A), Jun 9, 1999: Cessna 172N, Weaverville, CA, No damage. (-23) Pilot attempted a low pass over runway 36 at the Weaverville airport, he did not intend to land and came within 15 feet above the runway. The a/c… 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.