# NTSB NYC00LA049: Cessna 172L, N7565G, Wooster, OH, December 8, 1999

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: December 8, 1999, 18:45 local (23:45 UTC)
- Place: Wooster, OH
- Coordinates: 40.809097, -81.929954 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.8091&lon=-81.9300&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 3 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report June 23, 2000
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 47893
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC00LA049
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/47893/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC00LA049

## Probable cause

The pilot's inadvertent taxi onto unsuitable terrain.  A factor was the burnt out landing/taxi light.

## Sequence of events

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

- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, taxi
  - landing light(s) - inoperative (contributing factor)
  - proper assistance - not obtained, pilot in command (cause)
  - unsuitable terrain or takeoff/landing/taxi area - inadvertent use, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

The airplane's landing/taxi light burned out on final approach.  The pilot made an uneventful landing, then back-taxied to the parking ramp, which had no edge lights.  The pilot saw a jet parked on the ramp, and wanted to make sure he stayed clear of the it.  He misjudged the turn, and the airplane taxied off the pavement, and into a ditch.

## Factual narrative

On December 8, 1999, about 1845 Eastern Standard Time, a Cessna 172L, N7565G, was substantially damaged while taxiing at Wayne County Airport (BJJ), Wooster, Ohio.  The certificated private pilot, pilot-rated passenger, and one additional passenger were uninjured.  Night visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident.  No flight plan had been filed for the flight, from Lonesome Pine Airport, Wise, Virginia, to Wooster.  The flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91.

According to the pilot, the airplane's landing/taxi light burned out on final approach.  The pilot made an uneventful landing, then back-taxied to the parking ramp, which had no edge lights.  The pilot saw a jet parked on the ramp, and wanted to make sure he stayed clear of the it.  "I misjudged the turn," the airplane taxied off the pavement, and into a ditch.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N7565G](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N7565G), registered now, S/N 17259265, built 1970 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Cessna 172L
- Registry model: [Cessna 172L](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172l) (registry code 2072432) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 17259265
- Airframe hours: 4215
- Engines: Lycoming O-320 150 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Rock Aviation Service
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, December 6, 1999, 9 hours before
- Departed: LNP, WISE, VA
- Destination: BJJ
- Airport: BJJ, Wayne County Airport, runway 28, 5,193 × 100 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 59; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 97 total, 90 in this make and model, 38 as pilot in command, 7 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 190° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 25,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 41 °F, dew point 34 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: CAK

## 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 19991208038269A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19991208038269A), Dec 8, 1999: Cessna 172L, Wooster, OH, Substantial damage. (-23)Pilot landed west on runway (28); landing light was burnt out. Following successful landing pilot back taxied on runway. Due to darkness and landing light…

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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