# NTSB WPR22LA069: Cessna 172N, N6280F, Auburn, CA, December 22, 2021 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: December 22, 2021, 13:50 local (21:50 UTC) - Place: Auburn, CA · Came to rest on top of residential roof - Coordinates: 38.943167, -121.13416 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.9432&lon=-121.1342&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach-IFR final approach: Controlled flight into terr/obj (CFIT)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 104450 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR22LA069 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/104450/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=104450 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR22LA069 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain altitude during an instrument approach, which resulted in an impact with power lines. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Ceiling/visibility/precip: low visibility](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03035015): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on personnel; cases with it: [Cessna 172N, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03035015/cases.md?model=2072434), [All aircraft, 175 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03035015/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: altitude](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172N, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md?model=2072434), [All aircraft, 1,310 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md) - [Sensory ability/limitation: vestibular function](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02011530): Personnel issues › Physical · Pilot; cases with it: [Cessna 172N, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02011530/cases.md?model=2072434), [All aircraft, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02011530/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Approach-IFR final approach: Controlled flight into terr/obj (CFIT)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 172N, 14 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120/sequence.md?model=2072434), [All aircraft, 1,074 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120/sequence.md) ## Analysis The operator reported that the pilot was on an instrument flight rules (IFR) flight plan and was on a return flight to an airport after retrieving a company airplane. Radar data revealed that while on the approach path to land, about 3 miles from the destination airport, the airplane descended to 25 ft above the ground and shortly thereafter, the airplane impacted powerlines and came to rest on a rooftop. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings, the fuselage, and empennage. A local law enforcement officer reported that as the pilot was being transported to the hospital, he stated that he was disoriented during the approach. The officer added that the visibility during the time of the accident was less than ¼ of a mile. The operator reported that the pilot did not inform him or the other company pilot flying ahead of him in another airplane of any mechanical malfunctions or failures to the airplane or engine that would have precluded normal operation prior to or during the flight. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6280F](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6280F-2022-08-11), registration cancelled 2022-08-11, S/N 17273178, 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: 17273178 - Year built: 1979 - Airframe hours: 13889.6 - Engines: Lycoming O-360/A4M 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Positioning, Part 91 - Operator: Fox Two, LLC - Registered owner: Fox Two, LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal; Standard, Utility - Last inspection: Annual, December 8, 2021, 5 hours before - Departed: KPVF, Placerville, CA - Destination: Same as departure - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: KAUN, Auburn Municipal Airport, runway 07, 3,700 × 75 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Stall warning system, ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 32; injuries: serious; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; seat: left ## Weather - Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day - Wind: 160° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 4,800 ft broken - Temperature: 54 °F, dew point 48 °F - Altimeter: 29.95 inHg - Observed at: KAUN, 3 nm away - METAR: KAUN 222155Z AUTO 16008KT 10SM SCT027 SCT031 BKN048 12/09 A2995 RMK A01 ## 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 20211222020119A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20211222020119A), Dec 22, 2021: Cessna 172N, Auburn, CA, Substantial damage. On December 22, 2021, about 1505 pacific daylight time, a Cessna 172 n, N6280F, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident in Auburn,… ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 1, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=104450. 3.4 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 1.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13788872&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120%20069_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Record of conversation - operator (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 103 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13789082&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20-%20Operator%20-Rel.pdf - Leo record of conversation (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 188 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13954521&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation-%20Local%20LEO-Rel.pdf - Radar data track excerpt of accident flight (item 4, PDF, 1 page, 1.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13929549&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=N6280F%20-%20Radar%20Track-Rel.pdf - Accident photo (item 5, PDF, 1 page, 544 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13788253&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Accident%20Photo%20069-Rel.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.