Cessna 172K and Beech 58 accident near Palo Alto, California, July 15, 2000
On July 15, 2000 at about 6:00 pm local time, 2 aircraft, Cessna 172K (N79004) and Beech 58 (N7271R), were involved in the same accident near Palo Alto, California (Palo Alto airport). No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The Cessna pilot's inadequate visual lookout and misjudged distance to a standing Beech while taxiing for takeoff.
The pilot of the other airplane's (Cessna) inadequate visual lookout and misjudged distance to the standing Beech.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 15, 2000 · about 6:00 pm local time
- Place
- Palo Alto, California · Palo Alto · map
- Type
- Accident · collision on the ground
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- Cessna 172K · all 172Ks on the register
- Registration
- N79004 · registry record · serial 17257801
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
- Aircraft 2
- Beech 58 · all 58s on the register
- Registration
- N7271R · no longer on the register · serial TH584
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative for the Cessna 172K final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilots of a Beech (Baron) and a Cessna planned to depart using runway 31, and they taxied toward the runway's engine run-up area. Upon arrival, the Baron pilot found the area fully occupied by six other airplanes, so he held short. The Cessna pilot stopped in trail behind the Baron. After a few minutes, an airplane vacated the run-up area, and the Baron pilot applied engine power to reposition his airplane in the run-up area. The Cessna pilot attempted to pass the Baron by proceeding between the Baron's right wing and another airplane, to the Cessna's right side. The Cessna pilot indicated that he misjudged his clearance, and the leading edge of his left wing impacted the rear of the Baron's rotating propeller blades.
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 Beech 58 final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilots of a Beech (Baron) and a Cessna planned to depart using runway 31, and taxied toward the runway's engine run-up area. Upon arrival, the Baron pilot found the area fully occupied by six other airplanes, so he held short. The Cessna pilot stopped in trail behind the Baron. After a few minutes, an airplane vacated the run-up area, and the Baron pilot applied engine power to reposition his airplane in the run-up area. The Cessna pilot attempted to pass the Baron by proceeding between the Baron's right wing and another airplane, to the Cessna's right side. The Cessna pilot indicated that he misjudged his clearance, and the leading edge of his left wing impacted the rear of the Baron's rotating propeller blades.
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 172K from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 441 hours in all; 314 in this make and model; 10 in the last 90 days; 8 in the last 30 days; 311 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 1, 1999; 80 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,220 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A4M (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: not recorded
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 020° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 20,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 145°F (63°C), dew point 131°F (55°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:47 pm from PAO
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
The factual record for the Beech 58 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,945 hours in all; 1,700 in this make and model; 19 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days; 3,945 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,616 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 17, 1999; 53 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 5,400 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-520-C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket 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.