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NTSB Report

February 3, 2016 · Cessna 172S · N499DR

San Diego, CA

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
February 3, 2016
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (4 uninjured)
Location
San Diego, CA
Aircraft
Cessna 172S (2002)
Tail Number
N499DR
Operator
California Flight Academy
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Minor
NTSB Number
WPR16LA063

The airplane was parked on the ramp with its engine not operating when another airplane taxied into it. The other airplane, with a flight instructor and a student pilot onboard, was parked with the engine running when it began to move forward and to the right. The instructor stated that upon noticing the forward movement, he applied the brakes. He reported that the right rudder/brake pedal was positioned further forward than the left pedal, and upon application of brakes, the right turn increased before the airplane impacted the parked airplane, resulting in substantial damage to both. The student pilot reported that he noticed the airplane's movement and tried to alert the instructor; however, the instructor appeared to be distracted. Postaccident examination of the brake system revealed no anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. It is likely that the airplane's nose wheel was initially displaced to the right, which resulted in the airplane's right turn when it began to move.

NTSB Probable Cause

The failure of the flight instructor of the other airplane to maintain awareness while parked on the ramp with the engine operating, which resulted in impact with the parked airplane.

Full Narrative

On February 3, 2016, about 1130 Pacific standard time, a Cessna 172S, N499DR, impacted a parked, occupied Cessna 172S, N1955L at the Gillespie Field Airport (SEE), San Diego/El Cajon, California. Both airplanes were occupied with one certified flight instructor (CFI) and one student pilot; no one was injured. N499DR sustained minor damage, and N1955L sustained substantial damage to the fuselage structure and rudder. Both airplanes were registered to Sorbi Aviation Inc., and were operated by the California Flight Academy as 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 instructional flights. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident and neither airplane had filed a flight plan. Both airplanes were on the California Flight Academy parking ramp preparing for their local flights. The CFI from N499DR reported that this was the student pilot's first flight lesson. After completing a thorough preflight they hand towed the airplane out from its north facing parking spot and turned it towards the east. They started the engine and it idled between 800-1000 RPM. While listening to the airport's automatic terminal information service (ATIS) the airplane started to move with a right turning tendency. The CFI stated he did not notice it at first, but when he did, he stepped on the brakes. The airplane increased its right turn and struck a parked, occupied, airplane (N1955L). In a later conversation, the CFI reported that when he attempted to stop the airplane he noticed that the right rudder pedal was slightly more forward than the left, but not by much. In a written statement, the student pilot from N499DR reported that when the CFI was listening to the radio, the airplane started moving and turning into another airplane. He stated "Hey you! Airplane is moving!" and he touched the CFI. The CFI looked at him, then back at the radio, and he "did not do anything;" he appeared to be distracted. The airplane continued its turn and impacted N1955L. The CFI of N1955L reported that the student pilot and he were preparing for their flight with the engine off, when they suddenly felt a jolt and heard the sound of metal contacting metal. They turned around and observed that N499DR had struck the aft fuselage of their airplane. During a postaccident examination of N499DR's brake system by a Federal Aviation Administration airworthiness inspector, there were no visual defects or leaks. He manipulated the brakes both dependently and independently with no anomalies noted.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time11:30 PST
Nearest AirportGillespie Field Airport (0nm)
Flight Plan FiledNone
Flight Plan ActivatedNo
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftCessna 172S
Tail NumberN499DR
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageMinor
OperatorCalifornia Flight Academy
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · IO-360-L2A · Reciprocating · 180 | Lycoming · IO-360-L2A · Reciprocating · 160
Seats4

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (4 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured4
Total4
Crew 1Age 29 · First Class · None
Crew 2Age 29 · First Class · None
Crew 3Age 35 · First Class · None
Crew 4Age 25 · Third Class · None

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
WindCalm
Visibility8 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point63 F / 27 C
Altimeter30.34 inHg
Observation Time19:35
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data