# NTSB WPR09CA447: Cessna 172P, N51594, Long Beach, CA, September 8, 2009

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: September 7, 2009, 20:00 local (Sep 8, 2009, 03:00 UTC)
- Place: Long Beach, CA
- Coordinates: 33.817501, -118.15139 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.8175&lon=-118.1514&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Taxi-to runway: Ground collision](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 4 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report December 29, 2009
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Western Pacific Region
- Parties: Federal Aviation Adminstration
- NTSB case key (mKey): 74736
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR09CA447
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/74736/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74736
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR09CA447

## Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from a parked vehicle during taxi.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Object/animal/substance: ground vehicle](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022025): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Response/compensation (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172P, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022025/cases.md?model=2072436), [All aircraft, 132 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022025/cases.md)
- [Attention/monitoring: monitoring environment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172P, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md?model=2072436), [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Taxi-to runway: Ground collision](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 172P, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200/sequence.md?model=2072436), [All aircraft, 618 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200/sequence.md)

## Analysis

While taxing at night from a parking area to runway 30 for takeoff, the commercial pilot inadvertently departed the taxiway and entered onto a service road. While trying to re-enter the taxiway from the service road the left wing tip struck a parked van. The airplane then pivoted around and struck a storage container. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing. The pilot reported no mechanical malfunctions prior to the accident.

## Factual narrative

While taxing at night from a parking area to runway 30 for takeoff, the commercial pilot inadvertently departed the taxiway and entered onto a service road. While trying to re-enter the taxiway from the service road the left wing tip struck a parked van. The airplane then pivoted around and struck a storage container. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing. The pilot reported no mechanical malfunctions prior to the accident.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N51594](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N51594), registered now, S/N 17274326, built 1980 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172P
- Registry model: [Cessna 172P](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172p) (registry code 2072436) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 17274326
- Airframe hours: 12731
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320 SERIES 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Candace A. Lamed Enterprise, Inc., doing business as Long Beach Flying Club
- Registered owner: Harford Paul
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, August 10, 2009, 46 hours before
- Departed: LGB, Long Beach, CA
- Destination: LGB, Long Beach, CA
- Airport: LGB, Long Beach Airport

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 30; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review April 17, 2008; seat: left; flight hours: 1,557 total, 0 in this make and model, 1,426 as pilot in command

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 70 °F
- Altimeter: 29.79 inHg
- Observed at: LGB

## 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 20090907016929A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090907016929A), Sep 7, 2009: Cessna 172P, Long Beach, CA, Substantial damage. (-23) After boarding three passengers at night, in a remote unlit southwest area of the airport, the a/c was cleared for taxi to runway 30. The aircraft then…

## Docket (2 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 16, 2009, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74736. 328 KB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 280 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40319869&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF
- FAA Interview with Pilot (item 2, .PDF, 48 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40319870&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Interview%20with%20Pilot-Master.PDF

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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