Cessna 175 and Piper PA-28-235 mid-air collision near Oakdale, California, February 5, 1994
On February 5, 1994 at about 7:30 pm local time, 2 aircraft, Cessna 175 (N7597M) and Piper PA-28-235 (N6171J), were involved in a mid-air collision near Oakdale, California (Oakdale 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 of the other aircraft's failure to maintain an adequate visual lookout, and his failure to adequately communicate his postion and intentions on the Common Traffic Advisory Frequency. A factor in the accident was the pilot of the other aircraft's misidentification of the Cessna aircraft he was to follow in the pattern.
the pilot's failure to maintain an adequate visual lookout, and his failure to adequately communicate his postion and intentions on the Common Traffic Advisory Frequency. A factor in the accident was the pilot's misidentification of the Cessna aircraft he was to follow in the pattern.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 5, 1994 · about 7:30 pm local time
- Place
- Oakdale, California · Oakdale · map
- Type
- Accident · mid-air collision
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- Cessna 175 · all 175s on the register
- Registration
- N7597M · no longer on the register · serial 55897
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
- Aircraft 2
- Piper PA-28-235 · all PA-28-235s on the register
- Registration
- N6171J · no longer on the register · serial 28-7610136
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative for the Cessna 175 final · quoted from the NTSB record
Both aircraft were landing on runway 10 when they collided on the approach end of the runway. The pilot of the Cessna (N7597M) said he called on the CTAF on downwind, base, and final. He said the Piper called 3,000 feet over the airport for a practice engine out landing, but then he heard no further transmissions. The CFI on the Piper (N6171J) said they were going to do a simulated engine out emergency landing from 3,000 feet. He said he called his position and intentions on the CTAF, heard a Cessna in the traffic pattern, and looked for that aircraft. He saw a Cessna on final and planned to follow it. The CFI said the Cessna was turning off the runway as they were flaring when the collision occurred. The FBO UNICOM operator heard both aircraft. The Cessna pilot called on downwind, base, and final. The Piper pilot called once, when the aircraft was 3,000 feet over the airport. The Piper sturck the Cessna from above and behind.
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 Piper PA-28-235 final · quoted from the NTSB record
Both aircraft were landing on runway 10 when they collided on the approach end of the runway. The pilot of the Cessna (N7597M) said he called on the CTAF on downwind, base, and final. He said the Piper called 3,000 feet over the airport for a practice engine out landing, but then he heard no further transmissions. The CFI on the Piper (N6171J) said they were going to do a simulated engine out emergency landing from 3,000 feet. He said he called his position and intentions on the CTAF, heard a Cessna in the traffic pattern, and looked for that aircraft. He saw a Cessna on final and planned to follow it. The CFI said the Cessna was turning off the runway as they were flaring when the collision occurred. The FBO UNICOM operator heard both aircraft. The Cessna pilot called on downwind, base, and final. The Piper pilot called once, when the aircraft was 3,000 feet over the airport. The Piper sturck the Cessna from above and behind.
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 175 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 572 hours in all; 250 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,993 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 5, 1993; 57 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,350 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental GO-300A (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: O27 at 7:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 10, 3,020 ft by 66 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 010° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 6,000 ft
- Temperature: 55°F (13°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
The factual record for the Piper PA-28-235 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: 1,612 hours in all; 100 in this make and model; 1,493 as pilot in command; 569 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,130 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 20, 1993; 54 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,000 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-540-B4B5 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: O27 at 6:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 10, 3,020 ft by 66 ft
- 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.
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.