Monday, January 18, 2021

Loss of Control in Flight: Cessna 172R Skyhawk, N9559D; accident occurred July 12, 2020 at Buchanan Field Airport (KCCR), Concord, California







Aviation Accident Factual Report - National Transportation Safety Board 

The National Transportation Safety Board did not travel to the scene of this accident.

Additional Participating Entity
Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office;  Alameda, California 

Investigation Docket - National Transportation Safety Board:

Christiansen Aviation Inc

Pacific States Aviation Inc


Location: Concord, CA
Accident Number: WPR20CA219
Date & Time: 07/12/2020, 1200 PDT
Registration: N9559D
Aircraft: Cessna 172
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Defining Event: Loss of control in flight
Injuries: 1 None
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General Aviation - Instructional

The solo student pilot reported that, during landing, the airplane floated and drifted left of runway centerline. The pilot did not feel that he could make a safe landing and decided to go-around. Full power was added and shortly there after, the airplane struck a taxiway sign. The pilot continued the climb and maneuvered the airplane in the airport traffic pattern and landed without further incident. The left horizontal stabilizer was substantially damaged.

The student pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

Student Pilot Information

Certificate: Private
Age: 27, Male
Airplane Rating(s): Single-engine Land
Seat Occupied: Left
Other Aircraft Rating(s): None
Restraint Used:
Instrument Rating(s): Airplane
Second Pilot Present: No
Instructor Rating(s): None
Toxicology Performed:No 
Medical Certification: Class 1 With Waivers/Limitations
Last FAA Medical Exam: 11/02/2017
Occupational Pilot:No 
Last Flight Review or Equivalent: 12/30/2019
Flight Time: (Estimated) 247 hours (Total, all aircraft), 247 hours (Total, this make and model), 128 hours (Pilot In Command, all aircraft), 1 hours (Last 90 days, all aircraft), 1 hours (Last 30 days, all aircraft), 1 hours (Last 24 hours, all aircraft)

Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information

Aircraft Make: Cessna
Registration: N9559D
Model/Series: 172 R
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Year of Manufacture: 1999
Amateur Built: No
Airworthiness Certificate: Normal
Serial Number: 17280488
Landing Gear Type: Tricycle
Seats: 4
Date/Type of Last Inspection: 03/17/2020, 100 Hour
Certified Max Gross Wt.: 2450 lbs
Time Since Last Inspection: 79 Hours
Engines: 1 Reciprocating
Airframe Total Time: 9199.8 Hours as of last inspection
Engine Manufacturer: Lycoming
ELT: C91 installed, not activated
Engine Model/Series: IO-360-L2A
Registered Owner: Christiansen Aviation Inc
Rated Power: 160 hp
Operator: Pacific States Aviation, Inc
Operating Certificate(s) Held: Pilot School (141)

Meteorological Information and Flight Plan

Conditions at Accident Site: Visual Conditions
Condition of Light: Day
Observation Facility, Elevation: KCCR, 39 ft msl
Distance from Accident Site: 1 Nautical Miles
Observation Time: 1153 PDT
Direction from Accident Site: 141°
Lowest Cloud Condition: Clear
Visibility: 10 Miles
Lowest Ceiling: None
Visibility (RVR):
Wind Speed/Gusts: 10 knots /
Turbulence Type Forecast/Actual: None / None
Wind Direction: 330°
Turbulence Severity Forecast/Actual: N/A / N/A
Altimeter Setting: 29.89 inches Hg
Temperature/Dew Point: 31°C / 12°C
Precipitation and Obscuration: No Obscuration; No Precipitation
Departure Point: Concord, CA (CCR)
Type of Flight Plan Filed:None 
Destination: Concord, CA (CCR)
Type of Clearance:None 
Departure Time: PDT
Type of Airspace: Class D

Airport Information

Airport: Buchanan Field (CCR)
Runway Surface Type: Asphalt
Airport Elevation: 25 ft
Runway Surface Condition: Dry
Runway Used: 01R
IFR Approach: None
Runway Length/Width: 2770 ft / 75 ft
VFR Approach/Landing: Go Around

Wreckage and Impact Information

Crew Injuries: 1 None
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Passenger Injuries:N/A 
Aircraft Fire: None
Ground Injuries:N/A 
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 1 None
Latitude, Longitude: 37.989722, -122.056944 (est)

5 comments:

  1. Holy crap he's a 247 hour career student solo pilot making a 15 hour student solo rookie error like this? WOW. Just when I thought I had read it all here on KR with a 50-75 hour student solo who still doesn't have a private ticket. This guy just set a new standard of low pilot proficiency. And what's up with who I assume is the chief flight instructor stating comments about remedial training? This guy has more hours than your typical commercial and instrument rated student at a flight school! If you can't get it right by 50 hours, you sure as hell aren't going to get it right by 250 hours or 1,000 hours. Wow. Just. Wow.

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    Replies
    1. Totally agree, also 1 hour in last 90 and they let a student take the plane out solo?

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    2. Yep I stand corrected. I missed the private certificate. But this is still a basic rookie mistake that shouldn't happen with that many hours in a simple 172.

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  2. Says he was a private pilot certificate holder he was on some other type of training maybe commercial

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  3. Agree with David, he was likely working on Commercial hence the student pilot. Had a PP Cert.

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