Cessna 172L and Cessna 172M mid-air collision near Napa, California, March 14, 1996
On March 14, 1996 at about 9:28 pm local time, 2 aircraft, Cessna 172L (N7668G) and Cessna 172M (N20858), were involved in a mid-air collision near Napa, California (Napa County 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 both pilots to see and avoid the other aircraft, and the failure of the pilot of the Cessna 172L, N7668G, to follow VFR procedures by not yielding the right of way to the Cessna 172M, N20858, which was already established in the traffic pattern.
the failure of both pilots to see and avoid the other aircraft, and the failure of the pilot of the Cessna 172L, N7668G, to follow VFR procedures by not yielding the right of way to the Cessna 172M, N20858, which was already established in the traffic pattern.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 14, 1996 · about 9:28 pm local time
- Place
- Napa, California · Napa County · 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
- Cessna 172L · all 172Ls on the register
- Registration
- N7668G · no longer on the register · serial 17259368
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
- Aircraft 2
- Cessna 172M · all 172Ms on the register
- Registration
- N20858 · registry record · serial 17263857
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative for the Cessna 172L final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot of the Cessna 172L, N7668G, was cleared to enter right traffic. He had been instructed to report entering downwind and to watch for other aircraft in the pattern. When he did not report entering downwind as requested, the tower operator saw the collision course and told him to turn downwind, advising him of the traffic. At the same time he was preparing to turn downwind he saw another aircraft already in the pattern. He immediately initiated a turn to avoid a collision; however, a few seconds later he felt a bang on the tail of the aircraft. The pilot of the Cessna 172M, N20858, had been on downwind when he saw the other aircraft approaching from his left. He turned and dove his aircraft to avoid a collision, but within a few seconds felt a bump. After the collision both aircraft landed without incident. Neither pilot reported seeing the other until they were within a few hundred feet of each other.
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 172M final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot of the Cessna 172L, N7668G, was cleared to enter right traffic. He had been instructed to report entering downwind and to watch for other aircraft in the pattern. When he did not report entering downwind as requested, the tower operator saw the collision course and told him to turn downwind, advising him of the traffic. At the same time he was preparing to turn downwind he saw another aircraft already in the pattern. He immediately initiated a turn to avoid a collision; however, a few seconds later he felt a bang on the tail of the aircraft. The pilot of the Cessna 172M, N20858, had been on downwind when he saw the other aircraft approaching from his left. He turned and dove his aircraft to avoid a collision, but within a few seconds felt a bump. After the collision both aircraft landed without incident. Neither pilot reported seeing the other until they were within a few hundred feet of each other.
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 172L from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 1,250 hours in all; 1,000 in this make and model; 10 in the last 90 days; 1 in the last 30 days; 1,250 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,914 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 11, 1995; 8 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: O69 Petaluma CA at 9:00 pm
- Destination: APC
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18R, 5,931 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 190° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:30 pm from APC
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
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: 437 hours in all; 162 in this make and model; 2 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days; 437 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,658 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 4, 1995; 278 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: APC at 9:21 pm
- Destination: UKI Ukiah CA
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 18R, 5,931 ft by 150 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.
Other NTSB records under N7668G the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.