# NTSB SEA08CA052: Cessna 172S, N13974, Fullerton, CA, December 26, 2007

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: December 26, 2007, 11:30 local (19:30 UTC)
- Place: Fullerton, CA
- Coordinates: 33.871944, -117.979721
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.8719&lon=-117.9797&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report February 28, 2008
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 67298
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA08CA052
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/67298/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA08CA052

## Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain clearance while taxiing. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's diverted attention.

## Sequence of events

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

- On ground/water collision with object, taxi - from landing
  - diverted attention, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - clearance - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - object - building(nonresidential)

## Analysis

The student pilot had landed the airplane, exited the runway and was taxiing to parking. The tower controller informed the pilot that a helicopter was above him and to his right. The pilot looked to the right and saw the helicopter. While watching the helicopter, the pilot added right brake and throttle to move the airplane towards the center line of the taxiway. As the airplane turned, the pilot felt a jolt and saw that the airplane's left wing had contacted a utility trailer, substantially damaging the wing spar. The pilot stated that the accident could have been prevented if he had looked to all sides before turning and not allowed himself to be distracted by the presence of the helicopter.

## Factual narrative

The student pilot had landed the airplane, exited the runway and was taxiing to parking. The tower controller informed the pilot that a helicopter was above him and to his right. The pilot looked to the right and saw the helicopter. While watching the helicopter, the pilot added right brake and throttle to move the airplane towards the center line of the taxiway. As the airplane turned, the pilot felt a jolt and saw that the airplane's left wing had contacted a utility trailer, substantially damaging the wing spar. The pilot stated that the accident could have been prevented if he had looked to all sides before turning and not allowed himself to be distracted by the presence of the helicopter.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N13974](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N13974), registered now, S/N 172S10409, built 2006 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Cessna 172S
- Registry model: [Cessna 172S](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172s) (registry code 2072439) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-360-L2A](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-360-l2a) (registry code 41597, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 172S10409
- Engines: Lycoming IO-360 reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Aviation Facilities, Inc.
- Registered owner: PMC Concrete Construction, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: FUL, Fullerton, CA
- Destination: FUL
- Airport: FUL, Fullerton Municipal

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 59; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3; flight hours: 102 total, 102 in this make and model, 23 in the last 90 days, 13 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none

## 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 20071226828789A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20071226828789A), Dec 26, 2007: Cessna 172S, Fullerton, CA, Substantial damage. (-23) While trying to locate and identify landing helicopter traffic the student pilot taxied into a parked trailer adjacent to taxiway charlie. The pilot…

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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