Cessna 172 and Great Lakes 2T1A accident near San Diego, California, June 3, 2018
On June 3, 2018 at about 9:15 pm local time, 2 aircraft, Cessna 172 (N786SA) and Great Lakes 2T1A (N5762B), were involved in the same accident near San Diego, California (Montgomery-Gibbs Executive airport). 2 people had minor injuries; 2 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The biplane pilot’s failure to see and avoid the stopped airplane.
The biplane pilot’s failure to see and avoid the stopped airplane.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 3, 2018 · about 9:15 pm local time
- Place
- San Diego, California · Montgomery-Gibbs Executive · map
- Type
- Accident · collision on the ground
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries; 2 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- Cessna 172 S, built 2001 · all 172s on the register
- Registration
- N786SA · registry record · serial 172S8830
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
- Aircraft 2
- Great Lakes 2T1A 2, built 1980 · all 2T1As on the register
- Registration
- N5762B · registry record · serial 0833
- Damage
- Not recorded
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative for the Cessna 172 final · quoted from the NTSB record
The flight instructor, who was on the controls, reported that he and a student taxied for departure. Upon arrival at the departure end of the runway, there were four airplanes ahead of them in a run-up area. He added that the first airplane moved to the hold-short line and that, after he completed the engine run-up, they moved forward to the hold-short line behind the first airplane. The other three airplanes, which were biplanes, remained in the run-up area. After the departure of the first airplane, the instructor told the control tower they were ready for departure, and the tower controller replied to stand by. The tower controller then cleared the three biplanes, which were waiting in the run-up area for takeoff as a flight of three. The second biplane in the flight struck the instructor's airplane's right aileron as it taxied past. The pilot of the tailwheel-equipped biplane reported that he was the second in the flight of three. He added that the flight had been holding in the run-up area at a 45° angle to complete their run-up checks when the tower controller cleared the flight for takeoff. He began to follow the lead airplane, and his airplane struck the airplane stopped at the hold-short line. He reported that he never saw the stopped airplane until after the impact. The instructor's airplane sustained substantial damage to the right aileron. In an interview with the Federal Aviation Administration inspector, the flight instructor reported that he was not aware that the three biplanes were part of a single flight awaiting takeoff clearance. He also reported that he had never flown tailwheel airplanes and was not aware of their limited forward visibility. The flight instructor and biplane pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with their respective airplanes that would have precluded normal operation.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The NTSB's narrative for the Great Lakes 2T1A final · quoted from the NTSB record
The flight instructor, who was on the controls, reported that he and a student taxied for departure. Upon arrival at the departure end of the runway, there were four airplanes ahead of them in a run-up area. He added that the first airplane moved to the hold-short line and that, after he completed the engine run-up, they moved forward to the hold-short line behind the first airplane. The other three airplanes, which were biplanes, remained in the run-up area. After the departure of the first airplane, the instructor told the control tower they were ready for departure, and the tower controller replied to stand by. The tower controller then cleared the three biplanes, which were waiting in the run-up area for takeoff as a flight of three. The second biplane in the flight struck the instructor's airplane's right aileron as it taxied past. The pilot of the tailwheel-equipped biplane reported that he was the second in the flight of three. He added that the flight had been holding in the run-up area at a 45° angle to complete their run-up checks when the tower controller cleared the flight for takeoff. He began to follow the lead airplane, and his airplane struck the airplane stopped at the hold-short line. He reported that he never saw the stopped airplane until after the impact. The instructor's airplane sustained substantial damage to the right aileron. In an interview with the Federal Aviation Administration inspector, the flight instructor reported that he was not aware that the three biplanes were part of a single flight awaiting takeoff clearance. He also reported that he had never flown tailwheel airplanes and was not aware of their limited forward visibility. The flight instructor and biplane pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with their respective airplanes that would have precluded normal operation.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record for the Cessna 172 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Ground collision during taxi (into takeoff position) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Monitoring other aircraft › Pilot of other aircraft
- cause Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Monitoring environment › Pilot of other aircraft
- Environmental issues › Task environment › Physical workspace › Visibility › Effect on personnel
Flight instructor
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,006.7 hours in all; 832.7 in this make and model; 236.1 in the last 90 days; 60.7 in the last 30 days; 876.9 as pilot in command; 674 on instruments
- Last flight review: January 5, 2018
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: minor injuries
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 206.6 hours in all; 30.5 in the last 90 days; 3.2 in the last 30 days; 78.3 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: May 8, 2018
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 9,388.4 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, May 16, 2018
- Maximum gross weight: 2,550 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-L2A (piston); 7,504 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MYF San Diego CA at 9:15 pm
- Destination: DVT Phoenix AZ
- Flight plan: VFR
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 300° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 29.88 inHg
- Observation at 8:53 pm from KMYF
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | 1 | ||
| Passengers | 1 |
The factual record for the Great Lakes 2T1A from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Ground collision during taxi (into takeoff position) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Monitoring environment › Pilot
- cause Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Monitoring other aircraft › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 4,471 hours in all; 76 in this make and model; 12 in the last 90 days; 8 in the last 30 days; 3,821 as pilot in command; 2,059 on instruments
- Last flight review: January 28, 2017
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rear
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,421.3 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 4, 2018
- Maximum gross weight: 1,800 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental (piston); 1,421 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MYF San Diego CA at 9:15 pm
- Flight plan: none
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The NTSB has not released the docket for this case yet. The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), is usually released when the investigation is nearly complete, and the list here is refreshed when it appears. Check at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.