Beech F33A and Cessna 172N mid-air collision near La Verne, California, December 22, 2005
On December 22, 2005 at about 6:54 pm local time, 2 aircraft, Beech F33A (N3084N) and Cessna 172N (N738AH), were involved in a mid-air collision near La Verne, California (Brackett airport). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the failure of the pilot to comply with his air traffic control clearance and line up for the proper runway, and his failure to maintain an adequate visual lookout, which resulted in his in-flight collision with the Cessna airplane.
the failure of the pilot of the other aircraft to comply with his air traffic control clearance and line up for the proper runway, and his failure to maintain an adequate visual lookout, which resulted in his in-flight collision with the Cessna airplane.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 22, 2005 · about 6:54 pm local time
- Place
- La Verne, California · Brackett · map
- Type
- Accident · mid-air collision
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- Beech F33A · all F33As on the register
- Registration
- N3084N · registry record · serial CE-1246
- Damage
- Not recorded
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
- Aircraft 2
- Cessna 172N · all 172Ns on the register
- Registration
- N738AH · registry record · serial 69822
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative for the Beech F33A final · quoted from the NTSB record
A Beech F33A airplane impacted a Cessna 172N on short final after lining up on the wrong runway. According to the Beech pilot, he was cleared by the air traffic control tower for landing on runway 26R, but instead, accidentally lined up for runway 26L. On short final, the Beech pilot felt his airplane hit something and immediately heard the air traffic controller instruct him to go around. The pilot went around and eventually performed an uneventful landing. The Cessna student pilot was conducting his fourth solo flight and was practicing takeoffs and landings on 26L. He was cleared for the option on 26L and while on short final was overtaken by the Beech. The student pilot continued with an uneventful landing.
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 172N final · quoted from the NTSB record
A Beech F33A airplane impacted a Cessna 172N on short final after lining up on the wrong runway. According to the Beech pilot, he was cleared by the air traffic control tower for landing on runway 26R, but instead, accidentally lined up for runway 26L. On short final, the Beech pilot felt his airplane hit something and immediately heard the air traffic controller instruct him to go around. The pilot went around and eventually performed an uneventful landing. The Cessna student pilot was conducting his fourth solo flight and was practicing takeoffs and landings on 26L. He was cleared for the option on 26L and while on short final was overtaken by the Beech. The student pilot continued with an uneventful landing.
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 Beech F33A from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 5,414 hours in all; 1,227 in this make and model; 37 in the last 90 days; 12 in the last 30 days; 5,111 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: September 1, 2004
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,551 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 1, 2005; 92 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,400 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-520-BB16B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SBA Santa Barbara CA at 6:00 pm
- Destination: POC La Verne CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 26L, 4,838 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 4 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 20,000 ft
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Observation at 6:47 pm from POC
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
The factual record for the Cessna 172N from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Dual student
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 73 hours in all; 24 in this make and model; 30 in the last 90 days; 14 in the last 30 days; 3 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,624.6 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 1, 2005; 46 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,550 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A4M (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: POC La Verne CA at 6:50 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 26L, 5,000 ft by 75 ft
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.