Cessna 172RG and Cessna 172P accident near Santa Ana, California, November 18, 1993
On November 18, 1993 at about 7:07 pm local time, 2 aircraft, Cessna 172RG (N9620B) and Cessna 172P (N97766), were involved in the same accident near Santa Ana, California (John Wayne Airport). No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
were the other airplane's CFI's inadequate supervision of the flight, and his delay in taking remedial action.
were the CFI's inadequate supervision of the flight and his delay in taking remedial action. The dual student's excessive taxi speed and the worn right brake lining were factors in this accident.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 18, 1993 · about 7:07 pm local time
- Place
- Santa Ana, California · John Wayne Airport · 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 172RG · all 172RGs on the register
- Registration
- N9620B · no longer on the register · serial 172RG0925
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
- Aircraft 2
- Cessna 172P · all 172Ps on the register
- Registration
- N97766 · registry record · serial 17276228
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative for the Cessna 172RG final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE CFI AND HIS STUDENT WERE HOLDING AT THE RUNWAY APPROACH END WHEN ANOTHER AIRCRAFT STRUCK THEIR AIRCRAFT ON THE LEFT REAR SIDE.
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 172P final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE AIRPLANE WAS TAXIING FOR TAKEOFF. WHEN APPROACHING A STANDING AIRPLANE HOLDING SHORT OF THE RUNWAY, THE STUDENT PILOT REDUCED THE THROTTLE AND APPLIED THE BRAKES. THE AIRPLANE BEGAN TO TURN TO THE LEFT HEADING TOWARD THE STANDING AIRPLANE AND THE STUDENT APPLIED RIGHT RUDDER, WHICH CONTROLS THE NOSE GEAR STEERING ON THE GROUND. WHEN THIS ACTION DID NOT STOP THE AIRPLANE OR ARREST THE TURN, THE STUDENT TURNED THE AILERONS. THE STUDENT TOLD THE CFI THAT SHE WAS HAVING A PROBLEM IN STOPPING THE AIRPLANE, BUT BY THIS TIME THE CFI WAS SIMULTANEOUSLY APPLYING THE BRAKES AND FULL RIGHT RUDDER, BUT WITHOUT SUCCESS. THE AIRPLANE STRUCK THE STANDING AIRPLANE'S LEFT REAR SIDE. THE EXAMINATION OF THE BRAKE SYSTEM DISCLOSED THE RIGHT BRAKE LINING WAS WORN BEYOND SERVICEABLE LIMITS AND BOTH BRAKE CYLINDERS FUNCTIONED NORMALLY.
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 172RG from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, 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: 3,000 hours in all; 90 in this make and model; 200 in the last 90 days; 85 in the last 30 days; 2,850 as pilot in command; 2,140 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,385 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, August 1, 1993; 75 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,650 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-F1AG (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 230° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 43°F (6°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:10 pm from SNA
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
The factual record for the Cessna 172P from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,430 hours in all; 900 in this make and model; 153 in the last 90 days; 54 in the last 30 days; 1,371 as pilot in command; 920 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 11,831 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, November 8, 1993; 50 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,407 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-D2J (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
Other NTSB records under N9620B the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number LAX94LA050.