# NTSB WPR12CA260: Cessna 172P, N216AF, Hemet, CA, May 28, 2012 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: May 28, 2012, 16:30 local (23:30 UTC) - Place: Hemet, CA - Coordinates: 33.733612, -117.020278 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.7336&lon=-117.0203&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Taxi: Ground collision](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 13, 2012 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Adminstration FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 83960 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR12CA260 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/83960/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=83960 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR12CA260 ## Probable cause The student pilot's failure to monitor and maintain clearance from an obstacle during taxi. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Attention/monitoring: monitoring environment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545): Personnel issues › Psychological · Student/instructed 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) - [Object/animal/substance: pole](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022010): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Awareness of condition; cases with it: [Cessna 172P, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022010/cases.md?model=2072436), [All aircraft, 142 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022010/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Taxi: 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 The student pilot landed the airplane and was taxiing to a fueling facility when he decided that he did not have sufficient time to get fuel and still return the airplane within the allotted rental time. He maneuvered the airplane to a parking area, performed a U-turn, and, while maneuvering the airplane toward the taxiway center line, he saw a lamp post to his left. He immediately applied brake and rudder control input, but the airplane skidded, and the left wing struck the pole. The left aft wing spar sustained substantial damage during the impact sequence. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative The student pilot had just landed after completing a solo cross-country flight. He taxied the airplane, which was owned by a flight school, towards the ramp with the intention of using the restroom, and servicing the airplane with fuel. As he approached the fueling facility, he decided that he did not have sufficient time to get fuel, and still return the airplane within the allotted rental time, so he maneuvered the airplane to a parking area so he could perform a U-turn. After completing the turn, and while maneuvering the airplane back towards the taxi center line, he caught site of a lamp post to his left. He immediately applied brake and rudder control input, but the airplane skidded, and the left wing struck the pole. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left aft wing spar during the impact sequence. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N216AF](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N216AF), registered now, S/N 17274165, 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: 17274165 - Airframe hours: 16216 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320 SERIES 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, February 1, 2012 - Departed: KMYF, San Diego, CA - Destination: KHMT, Hemet, CA - Flight plan: Unknown - Airport: KHMT, Hemet, runway 23, 4,314 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Student pilot; age 29; injuries: none; student; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review February 3, 2012; seat: left; flight hours: 37 total, 37 in this make and model, 15 as pilot in command, 9 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 320° at 13 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 77 °F, dew point 50 °F - Altimeter: 29.94 inHg - Observed at: KRIV, 15 nm away ## 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 20120528013019A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20120528013019A), May 28, 2012: Cessna 172P, Hemet, CA, Substantial damage. Student pilot struck lightpole while taxiing aircraft on airport ramp away from home airport after landing while on a solo cross country flight. ## Other investigations on N216AF (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 WPR11CA376](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR11CA376), Aug 14, 2011: Cessna 172P (N216AF), San Diego, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The student pilot's failure to maintain clearance from obstacles while taxiing. ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 6, 2012, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=83960. 3.2 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40371969&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Photo 1 - Leading Edge Damage (item 2, .PDF, 124 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40371972&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%20-%20Leading%20Edge%20Damage-Master.PDF - Photo 2 - Aft Spar Damage (item 3, .PDF, 674 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40371973&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202%20-%20Aft%20Spar%20Damage-Master.PDF - Photo 3 - Wing Rib Damage (item 4, .PDF, 667 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40371974&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%203%20-%20Wing%20Rib%20Damage-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. --- 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.