Plane Crash List

Cessna 172M N80780

11 October 1992 · Fairfield, California, United States · Fatal

Summary

On 11 October 1992 at about 02:47 local time, a Cessna 172M registered N80780, operated by Travis A.f.b. Aero Club, was involved in an accident near Fairfield, California, United States. 3 people were on board and one died, 2 were seriously injured. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

The record

Date
at 02:47
Classification
Accident
Location
Fairfield, California, United States
Nearest airport
Travis Afb Aero Club Arpt (8Q0)
Coordinates
38.2810, -121.9202
Aircraft
Cessna 172M
Registration
N80780
Category
Airplane
Engines
1
Operator
Travis A.f.b. Aero Club
Operating rule
Part 91: General Aviation
Purpose of flight
Personal
Phase of flight
Not recorded
Route
Sacramento → Unknown
Aircraft damage
Destroyed
Weather
VMC
Light
Night/Bright
NTSB number
LAX93FA007

People

1 person died.

On board Died Serious Minor Uninjured
3 1 2 0 0

Probable cause

THE PILOT'S DELAY IN INITIATING A GO-AROUND DURING A NIGHT LANDING. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE PILOT MISJUDGING DISTANCE AND SPEED RESULTING A OVERSHOOTING THE TOUCHDOWN, THE NIGHT LIGHT CONDITION, HIS LACK OF NIGHT FLYING EXPERIENCE IN A CESSNA 172, AND HIS FAILURE TO TURN OFF THE CARBURETOR HEAT DURING THE GO-AROUND.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

WITNESSES REPORTED THAT THE AIRPLANE TOUCHED DOWN ABOUT HALF WAY DOWN THE 2,000 FT RUNWAY. THE PILOT ADDED POWER AND EXECUTED A GO-AROUND. THE AIRPLANE STRUCK A POWER POLE LOCATED 38 FT ABOVE THE RUNWAY ELEVATION AND 958 FT FROM THE DEPARTURE END OF THE RUNWAY. THE AIRPLANE CAME TO REST INVERTED IN AN ADJACENT FIELD. THE FLAPS WERE FOUND DOWN 10 DEG AND THE CARBURETOR HEAT WAS IN THE ON POSITION. THE PILOT HAD NOT RECORDED ANY NIGHT FLYING EXPERIENCE IN THE ACCIDENT AIRPLANE.

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