# NTSB WPR23LA298: Cessna 152, N46393, Long Beach, CA, August 1, 2023

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: August 1, 2023, 16:37 local (23:37 UTC)
- Place: Long Beach, CA · on airport
- Coordinates: 33.81793, -118.15189
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.8179&lon=-118.1519&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining events: [Taxi: Ground collision](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200); [Taxi: Ground collision](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 4 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office: Western Pacific Region
- Parties: Federal Aviation Administration
- NTSB case key (mKey): 192775
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR23LA298
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/192775/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=192775
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR23LA298

## Probable cause (aircraft 1)

The flight instructor’s inattention during ground operations, which resulted in unintentional movement of the airplane and ground collision with another airplane.

## Findings

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

- [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Instructor/check pilot, aircraft 1; cases with it: [Cessna 152, 115 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2071835), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)
- [Attention/monitoring: monitoring equip/instruments](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021525): Personnel issues › Psychological · Instructor/check pilot, aircraft 1; cases with it: [Cessna 152, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021525/cases.md?model=2071835), [All aircraft, 142 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021525/cases.md)
- [Object/animal/substance: aircraft](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022040): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Response/compensation, aircraft 1; cases with it: [Cessna 152, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022040/cases.md?model=2071835), [All aircraft, 116 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022040/cases.md)
- [Attention/monitoring: monitoring other aircraft](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021540): Personnel issues › Psychological · Student/instructed pilot (probable cause), aircraft 1; cases with it: [Cessna 152, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021540/cases.md?model=2071835), [All aircraft, 231 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021540/cases.md)
- [Object/animal/substance: aircraft](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022040): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Response/compensation (probable cause), aircraft 2; cases with it: [Cessna 172S, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022040/cases.md?model=2072439), [All aircraft, 116 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022040/cases.md)
- [Attention/monitoring: monitoring other aircraft](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021540): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause), aircraft 2; cases with it: [Cessna 172S, 12 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021540/cases.md?model=2072439), [All aircraft, 231 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021540/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), aircraft 1; cases with it: [Cessna 152, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200/sequence.md?model=2071835), [All aircraft, 618 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200/sequence.md)
- [Taxi: Ground collision](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200) (defining event), aircraft 2; cases with it: [Cessna 172S, 23 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200/sequence.md?model=2072439), [All aircraft, 618 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200/sequence.md)

## Analysis (aircraft 1)

The student pilot in a Cessna 152 reported that, after completing the engine start procedure checklist, he set the parking brake and both he and the instructor placed their feet on the brake pedals. As both pilots looked down to plug in their headsets the airplane rolled forward and struck the right wing of a Cessna 172 that was taxiing in front of them. As a result of the collision, the Cessna 172’s right wing was substantially damaged. The flight crews of both airplanes reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with their airplanes that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft 1

- Registration: [N46393](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N46393), registered now, S/N 15283042 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 152
- Registry model: [Cessna 152](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-152) (registry code 2071835) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-235 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-235-series) (registry code 41505, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 15283042
- Year built: 1986
- Engines: LYCOMING I0-235 SERIES 115 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Minor damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Aces High Aviation LLC
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Destination: Same as departure
- Airport: LGB, Long Beach (Daugherty Fld)
- Equipment: Stall warning system, ADS-B

## Aircraft 2

- Registration: [N65537](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N65537), registered now, S/N 172S9726, built 2004 (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: 172S9726
- Year built: 2004
- Airframe hours: 9684
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-360-L2A 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Aces High Aviation LLC
- Registered owner: Aces High Aviation LLC
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, July 21, 2023
- Destination: Same as departure
- Equipment: ADS-B, Stall warning system

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Flight instructor, aircraft N46393; age 26; injuries: none; flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, multi-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review August 16, 2022; seat: right; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 1,040 total, 400 in this make and model, 1,003 as pilot in command, 200 in the last 90 days, 63 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours
- Student pilot, aircraft N46393; age 23; injuries: none; student; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 3.4 total, 3.4 in this make and model, 2.4 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours
- Flight instructor, aircraft N65537; age 33; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review May 16, 2023; seat: right; flight hours: 1,624 total, 1,573 in this make and model, 1,477 as pilot in command, 222 in the last 90 days, 78 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours
- Pilot, aircraft N65537; age 39; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review July 25, 2021; seat: left; flight hours: 152 total, 152 in this make and model, 45 as pilot in command, 4 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 300° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 63 °F
- Altimeter: 29.93 inHg
- Observed at: KLGB
- METAR: KLGB 012353Z 30010KT 10SM CLR 29/17 A2993 RMK AO2 SLP133 T02940167 10328 20261 56016

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Incident 20230801017022I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230801017022I), Aug 1, 2023: Cessna 152, Long Beach, CA, Minor damage. CFI and student started the plane. CFI stated their feet were on the brakes. CFI told student to release the parking brake. As he released the parking brake,…

## Docket (4 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 16, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=192775. 38.8 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120 N46393 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 6.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16197602&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120%20WPR23LA298%20N46393_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120 N65537 (item 2, PDF, 11 pages, 2.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16198279&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120%20WPR23LA298%20N65537_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Video file (item 3, MP4, 29.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16199069&FileExtension=mp4&FileName=Ramp%20Camera%208-1-2023-Rel.mp4
- Photos (item 4, PDF, 2 pages, 751 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16237190&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=PIcture%20WPR23LA298%20Long%20Beach,%20CA%20N46393%20N65537-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.

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