Cessna 172 N51313

Summary

On 16 March 1989 at about 02:40 local time, a Cessna 172 registered N51313, operated by Buchanon Flying Club, was involved in an accident near Rio Vista, California, United States. 3 people were on board and 3 had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

16 March 1989 at 02:40

Classification

Accident

Location

Rio Vista, California, United States

Coordinates

38.1790, -121.7292

Aircraft

Cessna 172

Registration

N51313

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Buchanon Flying Club

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Concord → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Dusk

NTSB number

LAX89LA126

3 people had minor injuries.

THE IMPROPER PLANNING AND EXECUTION OF AN EMERGENCY (SIMULATED) MANEUVER BY THE PILOT.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE PILOT OF A C172 FLEW INTO A TELEPHONE WIRE, LOST CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE AND COLLIDED WITH THE TERRAIN WHILE EXECUTING A SIMULATED FORCED LANDING APPROACH TO A FIELD ABOUT 8 MILES WEST OF RIO VISTA, CA. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE WAS SHOWING HIS PASSENGERS SIMULATED FORCED LANDING APPROACH TO AN OPEN FIELD. WHILE IN A DESCENT, BOTH OF THE PILOTS AND THE PASSENGER SAW A TELEPHONE WIRE IN THEIR FLIGHT PATH (AT ABOUT 75 FEET ABOVE GROUND LEVEL). THE PRIVATE PILOT WAS UNABLE TO AVOID THE WIRE. THE AIRPLANE'S MAIN LANDING GEAR CLEARED THE WIRE BUT, THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE HORIZONTAL STABILIZER CAUGHT THE WIRE. THE PRIVATE PILOT LOST CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE AND COLLIDED WITH THE TERRAIN. THERE WAS NO REPORTED MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION OR FAILURE TO THE AIRPLANE, PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.