Cessna 172M and Cessna 172S accident near Carlsbad, California, June 10, 2005
On June 10, 2005 at about 8:45 pm local time, 2 aircraft, Cessna 172M (N1126U) and Cessna 172S (N587SP), were involved in the same accident near Carlsbad, California (Mc Clellan-Palomar airport). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilot's inadequate visual lookout and failure to maintain separation while taxiing, which resulted in a collision with another airplane.
the other pilot's inadequate visual lookout and failure to maintain separation while taxiing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 10, 2005 · about 8:45 pm local time · cases in 2005
- Place
- Carlsbad, California · Mc Clellan-Palomar · cases near this airport · map
- Type
- Accident · collision on the ground
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- Cessna 172M · all 172Ms on the register
- Registration
- N1126U · no longer on the register · serial 17266855
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
- Aircraft 2
- Cessna 172S · all 172Ss on the register
- Registration
- N587SP · registry record · serial 172S8518
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative for the Cessna 172M final · quoted from the NTSB record
While taxiing from the run up area to the runway, the airplane's right wing tip hit the tail section of another Cessna 172 that was holding in the run-up area awaiting a takeoff clearance. After being cleared for takeoff, the pilot had to taxi between a jet, also holding short of the runway, and the other Cessna 172.
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 Cessna 172S final · quoted from the NTSB record
While holding in the run-up area awaiting a takeoff clearance, the right wing tip of another Cessna 172 that was taxiing to the runway from the run-up area hit the airplane's tail section. After being cleared for takeoff, the other pilot had to taxi between a jet, also holding short of the runway, and this airplane.
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 172M from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 210 hours in all; 210 in this make and model; 9 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days; 63 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: April 1, 2005
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: CRQ Carlsbad CA at 8:45 pm
- Destination: CRQ
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 250° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 1,600 ft; clear
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 29.84 inHg
- Observation at 8:23 pm from CRQ
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
The factual record for the Cessna 172S from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Flight instructor
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 850 hours in all; 227 in this make and model; 217 in the last 90 days; 95 in the last 30 days; 773 as pilot in command; 510 on instruments
- Last flight review: August 1, 2004
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Dual student
- Certificate: student
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Maximum gross weight: 2,550 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Textron Lycoming IO-360-L2A (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Pinnacle Aviation Academy INC
The flight
- Departed from: CRQ Carlsbad CA at 8:45 pm
- Destination: CRQ
- Flight plan: none
- A second pilot was aboard
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
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.
Other NTSB records under N1126U the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N1126U: not on the register today · the record of its deregistration
- Cessna 172 Skyhawk 20,691 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Cessna 72,677 aircraft on the register
- N587SP on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Cessna 172 Skyhawk 20,691 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Cessna 72,677 aircraft on the register
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 27,303 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Engine: Textron Lycoming IO-360-L2A 2,650 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- MC Clellan-Palomar Airport · nearest airport
- Accidents and incidents in California 9,080 since 1982 · 1,096 in the last ten years
- California 28,158 aircraft registered
- Other NTSB records under N1126U 1 records · the number may have belonged to another aircraft at the time
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/LAX05LA199.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.