Cessna 172 N51409

Summary

On 24 July 1993 at about 20:50 local time, a Cessna 172 registered N51409, operated by Pacific Flight Services, was involved in an accident near Vacaville, California, United States. 4 people were 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.

Date

24 July 1993 at 20:50

Classification

Accident

Location

Vacaville, California, United States

Nearest airport

Nut Tree (O45)

Coordinates

38.4099, -122.0107

Aircraft

Cessna 172

Registration

N51409

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Pacific Flight Services

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Other Work Use

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

LAX93LA298

Nobody was injured.

THE PILOT'S IMPROPER IN-FLIGHT PLANNING/DECISION BY FAILING TO ALLOW ENOUGH TIME FOR THE ROTOR WASH TO DISSIPATE BEFORE ATTEMPTING THE APPROACH. THE WAKE TURBULENCE (ROTOR WASH) WAS A FACTOR IN THIS ACCIDENT.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE LOCAL CONTROLLER CLEARED THE FLIGHT FOR A STRAIGHT IN APPROACH TO RUNWAY 20 TO FOLLOW A LARGE HELICOPTER. THE CONTROLLER CAUTIONED THE PILOT OF POSSIBLE EXISTING WAKE TURBULENCE. WHILE NEARING THE THRESHOLD THE AIRPLANE ENCOUNTERED SOME TURBULENCE AND THE PILOT INITIATED A GO AROUND. DURING THE GO AROUND THE AIRPLANE ENCOUNTERED MORE SEVERE TURBULENCE AND COULD NOT CONTROL THE AIRPLANE. THE AIRPLANE STRUCK THE RUNWAY AND SKIDDED TO A STOP. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THE SURFACE WINDS WERE FROM 180 DEGREES AT 10 KNOTS, GUSTING TO 15 KNOTS.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.