# NTSB WPR14LA080: Cessna 172N, N4936D, Pacoima, CA, December 29, 2013 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: December 29, 2013, 12:53 local (20:53 UTC) - Place: Pacoima, CA - Coordinates: 34.258335, -118.414169 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.2583&lon=-118.4142&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Maneuvering: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 2 minor - Status: Completed, report October 3, 2016 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 88598 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR14LA080 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/88598/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=88598 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR14LA080 ## Probable cause The flight instructor’s inadequate compensation for the gusting crosswind conditions during landing, which resulted in a loss of airplane control. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Wind: gusts](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Response/compensation (probable cause) - [Wind: crosswind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Ability to respond/compensate (probable cause) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause) - [Performance/control parameters](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause) - [Object/animal/substance: wire](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022032): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome - [Object/animal/substance: residence/building](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022022): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome ## Analysis The private pilot and the flight instructor were conducting a local instructional flight. The pilot reported that, due to high wind, the flight instructor took the controls during the landing. He added that, as the airplane touched down, it encountered a wind gust and then became airborne. The flight instructor applied power in an attempt to crab into the wind and avoid colliding with the air traffic control tower. The airplane then encountered another wind gust, ascended to about 50 ft, continued to drift left of the runway, and then rolled. The flight instructor was unable to maintain control, and the airplane subsequently descended and collided with power transmission lines, impacted a building, and came to rest in a nearby parking lot. The reported wind at the airport about the time of the accident was a 22-knot crosswind gusting up to 26 knots. The pilots reported no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative On December 29, 2013, at 1253 Pacific standard time, a Cessna 172N, N4936D, impacted power transmission wires during an aborted landing at Whiteman Airport (WHP), Pacoima, California. Vista Air, Inc., operated the airplane under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. The certified flight instructor (CFI) and the private pilot receiving instruction (PUI) sustained minor injuries; the airplane sustained substantial damage due to impact forces. The local instructional flight departed Pacoima about 1200. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed. During an attempted landing on runway 30, the airplane touched down on the runway adjacent to intersection Delta and then became airborne again. The air traffic controller heard the engine sounds increase as the airplane turned 90 degrees left. Shortly thereafter, witnesses reported that the airplane's left wing collided with power transmission lines. The airplane then descended into a building in a used car sales lot. The CFI reported that due to the high winds, he was the flying pilot during the landing. He stated that as the airplane touched down, they hit a gust of wind and became airborne. The airplane drifted left of runway centerline and the CFI added power in an attempt to crab into the wind and avoid the air traffic control tower. The airplane continued to drift left and collided with power transmission lines. The pilot not flying estimated that upon encountering the wind gust that the airplane climbed about 50 feet above the runway, he further stated that on the attempted go-around that "another gust of wind hit us and we turned on our side. We dropped like a rock into a set of power lines." The reported winds at WHP during the timeframe of the accident were ranging from 350 degrees at 24 knots, 320 degrees at 22 knots, 360 degrees at 26 knots, and 360 degrees at 25 knots, respectively. The pilot reported no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-aborted after touchdown: Other weather encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400) - [Maneuvering: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event) - [Maneuvering: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470) ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4936D](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4936D-2015-04-30), registration cancelled 2015-04-30, S/N 17272405, built 1979 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 172N - 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: 17272405 - Year built: 1979 - Airframe hours: 13100 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320H SERIES 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Vista Aviation - Registered owner: Rhodes John D - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, November 29, 2013 - Departed: WHP, Pacoima, CA - Destination: WHP, Pacoima, CA - Airport: WHP, Whiteman, runway 30, 4,120 × 75 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 34; injuries: minor; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; seat: right; flight hours: 878 total, 799 in this make and model, 817 as pilot in command, 280 in the last 90 days, 84 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours - Pilot; age 42; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; last flight review February 18, 2006; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 140.8 total, 110.5 in this make and model, 89.3 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 350° at 20 knots, gusting 30 - Visibility: 25 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 1 °F - Altimeter: 30.05 inHg - Observed at: WHP ## 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 20131229025039A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20131229025039A), Dec 29, 2013: Cessna 172N, Pacoima, CA, Destroyed. N4936D departed kwhp for a training flight at 1130 local time. The certified flight instructor (CFI) was the PIC for this flight and occupied the right seat.… ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 16, 2016, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=88598. 6.3 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 4.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40443128&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Witness Statement - Evangelista (item 2, .PDF, 15 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40443129&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Witness%20Statement%20-%20Evangelista-Master.PDF - Weather Reports and Records (item 3, .PDF, 130 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40443130&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Reports%20and%20Records-Master.PDF - Airport Information (item 4, .PDF, 189 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40443131&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Airport%20Information-Master.PDF - Accident Photos (item 5, .PDF, 5 photos, 1.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40443132&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Photos-Master.PDF From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date; 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.