Aviation Crash Map

Cessna 172 N2781E

26 July 1992 · Van Nuys, California, United States · No injuries

Summary

On 26 July 1992 at about 22:35 local time, a Cessna 172 registered N2781E, operated by San VAL Flying Service, was involved in an accident near Van Nuys, California, United States. One person was on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

The record

Date
at 22:35
Classification
Accident
Location
Van Nuys, California, United States
Nearest airport
Van Nuys (VNY)
Coordinates
34.1906, -118.4894
Aircraft
Cessna 172
Registration
N2781E
Category
Airplane
Engines
1
Operator
San VAL Flying Service
Operating rule
Part 91: General Aviation
Purpose of flight
Instructional
Phase of flight
Not recorded
Aircraft damage
Substantial
Weather
VMC
Light
Day
NTSB number
LAX92LA342

People

Nobody was injured.

On board Died Serious Minor Uninjured
1 0 0 0 1

Probable cause

THE STUDENT PILOT'S IMPROPER USE OF THE CHECKLIST TO ASSURE THAT THE TRIM TAB WAS IN THE PROPER POSITION AND FAILURE TO FOLLOW NORMAL PROCEDURES AND DIRECTIVES. CONTRIBUTING TO THIS ACCIDENT WAS THE PILOT'S LACK OF TOTAL EXPERIENCE, MISREADING OF THE TRIM SETTING, AND EXESSIVE NOSE DOWN ELEVATOR TRIM TAB.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE NONCERTIFICATED STUDENT PILOT WAS DEPARTING ON A LOCAL SOLO FLIGHT. PRIOR TO DEPARTURE THE STUDENT PILOT IMPROPERLY USED THE CHECKLIST AND FAILED TO DETERMINE THE TRIM TAB POSITION. ON LIFTOFF WITH THE TRIM TAB IN THE FULL NOSE DOWN POSITION THE PILOT WAS UNABLE TO USE THE PROPER ELEVATOR CONTROL. THE STUDENT PILOT FAILED TO RESET THE TRIM AFTER REACHING ABOUT 20 FT ABOVE THE GROUND AND ELECTED TO ABORT THE TAKEOFF. THE STUDENT PILOT WAS UNABLE TO FLARE THE AIRPLANE AND LANDED HARD ON THE REMAINING RUNWAY CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE FIREWALL AND NOSE GEAR.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.

Other Cessna 172 accidents

Date Aircraft Location Operator Outcome Died
11 Nov 1992 Cessna 172M
N13400
Olympia, Washington, United States Center O Flying Club No injuries -
17 Nov 1992 Cessna 172M
N4324R
Vancouver, Washington, United States Tabooma Flyers Inc. Minor injuries -
14 Jan 1992 Cessna 172N
N4885G
Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States
no coordinates
Thomas Kuehn No injuries -
21 Feb 1992 Cessna 172N
N738YY
Orlando, Florida, United States Flight Express, Inc. No injuries -
4 May 1992 Cessna 172N
N5096E
Parkdale, Oregon, United States Vancouver Aviation No injuries -
18 Jul 1992 Cessna 172N
N4500E
Lake Michigan, Michigan, United States
no coordinates
Battle Creek Air Service, Inc. Fatal 4

All 12,209 records for this type

Other accidents in this area

Date Aircraft Location Operator Outcome Died
22 Feb 1992 Piper PA-28R-201T
N9343C
Ludlow, California, United States Higgins, Melvin W & Jean Minor injuries -
22 Feb 1992 Beechcraft C-23
N2169W
Fullerton, California, United States
no coordinates
Eldon R. Howe No injuries -
23 Feb 1992 Cessna 150
N126NK
San Jose, California, United States Veda Corporation Minor injuries -
23 Feb 1992 Cessna 182N
N8948G
San Ardo, California, United States Soil Service, Inc. No injuries -
25 Feb 1992 Grumman G-164B
N3633C
Dixon, California, United States Sunrise Duster, Inc. No injuries -
25 Feb 1992 Bellanca 7ECA
N4193Y
Apple Valley, California, United States Chester Waite Serious injuries -

All 170,864 records in United States