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NTSB Report

January 22, 1991 · Cessna 172P · N96306

Sacramento, CA

Overview

Report Status

Probable Cause

Event Type

Accident

Date

January 22, 1991

Injury Outcomes

1 injury (1 serious injury)

Location

Sacramento, CA

Aircraft

Cessna 172P

Tail Number

N96306

Operator

Patterson Aircraft

Injuries

Serious

Aircraft Damage

Destroyed

NTSB Number

LAX91LA078

THE ACCIDENT SITE IS ABOUT 3 MILES SOUTH OF THE SACRAMENTO AIRPORT NEAR THE EXTENDED CENTERLINE FOR RUNWAY 34L. THE TRACON TRACKED THE ACCIDENT AIRCRAFT AS IT PENETRATED THE ARSA AT 1300 FEET MSL ON A NW BOUND HEADING. THE AIRCRAFT WAS OBSERVED TO TURN WEST BOUND AS IT DESCENDED TO 800 FT MSL AND CROSS THE EXTENDED RUNWAY CENTER LINE BEHIND AN ARRIVING AMERICAN AIRLINES MD80. THE CESSNA WAS OBSERVED ON RADAR TO CROSS THE FLIGHT PATH OF THE MD80 1 MILE BEHIND AND 100 FT LOWER THAN THE TRANSPORT BEFORE IT ABRUPTLY DISAPPEARED FROM THE RADAR. CONTROLLERS ON DUTY IN THE ATCT SAID THEY SAW THE LIGHTS OF THE CESSNA PASS BEHIND AND JUST BELOW THE MD80, THEN IT ABRUPTLY DESCENDED TOWARD THE GROUND.

NTSB Probable Cause

THE FLIGHT'S INADVERTANT ENCOUNTER WITH WAKE TURBULENCE.

Full Narrative

THE ACCIDENT SITE IS ABOUT 3 MILES SOUTH OF THE SACRAMENTO AIRPORT NEAR THE EXTENDED CENTERLINE FOR RUNWAY 34L. THE TRACON TRACKED THE ACCIDENT AIRCRAFT AS IT PENETRATED THE ARSA AT 1300 FEET MSL ON A NW BOUND HEADING. THE AIRCRAFT WAS OBSERVED TO TURN WEST BOUND AS IT DESCENDED TO 800 FT MSL AND CROSS THE EXTENDED RUNWAY CENTER LINE BEHIND AN ARRIVING AMERICAN AIRLINES MD80. THE CESSNA WAS OBSERVED ON RADAR TO CROSS THE FLIGHT PATH OF THE MD80 1 MILE BEHIND AND 100 FT LOWER THAN THE TRANSPORT BEFORE IT ABRUPTLY DISAPPEARED FROM THE RADAR. CONTROLLERS ON DUTY IN THE ATCT SAID THEY SAW THE LIGHTS OF THE CESSNA PASS BEHIND AND JUST BELOW THE MD80, THEN IT ABRUPTLY DESCENDED TOWARD THE GROUND.

Flight

Event TypeAccident

Event Time19:36 PST

Nearest Airport0nm N

Runway0

Flight Plan FiledVFR

Aircraft FireNo

Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftCessna 172P

Tail NumberN96306

Aircraft CategoryAir

DamageDestroyed

OperatorPatterson Aircraft

Operating RulePart 91

Engines1

Engine TypeReciprocating

Engine DetailsLycoming · O-320-D2J · Reciprocating · 160

Seats4

People & Injuries

Injury Summary1 injury (1 serious injury)

Fatal0

Serious1

Minor0

Uninjured0

Total1

Crew 1Age 23 · Second Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC

LightDark Night

Wind330° @ 13 kt

Visibility40 sm

CeilingNone

Temperature / Dew Point0 C / 0 C

Altimeter0

Observation Time02:46

Weather SourceWFAC

500 – Data service is offline

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January 22, 1991 · Cessna 172P · N96306

Overview

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NTSB Probable Cause

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