Cessna 182T and Cessna 172S accident near San Diego, California, June 24, 2013
On June 24, 2013 at about 4:15 am local time, 2 aircraft, Cessna 182T (N411CP) and Cessna 172S (N694RR), were involved in the same accident near San Diego, California (Montgomery Field 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
Both pilots’ failure to maintain a proper visual lookout while taxiing during nighttime conditions, which resulted in an on-ground collision.
Both pilots’ failure to maintain a proper visual lookout while taxiing during nighttime conditions, which resulted in an on-ground collision.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 24, 2013 · about 4:15 am local time
- Place
- San Diego, California · Montgomery Field 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 182T, built 2010 · all 182Ts on the register
- Registration
- N411CP · registry record · serial 18282232
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Other work-use flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
- Aircraft 2
- Cessna 172S, built 2007 · all 172Ss on the register
- Registration
- N694RR · no longer on the register · serial 172S10587
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative for the Cessna 182T final · quoted from the NTSB record
Two Cessna airplanes collided while taxiing during nighttime operations. The Cessna 182T pilot reported that he was taxiing on taxiway H toward the runway when he suddenly noticed a white airplane, which was approaching from the right, appear in his windscreen. He applied maximum braking; however, his airplane's right wing impacted the other airplane's left wing. The Cessna 172S pilot, who was at the flight controls, and the pilot-rated passenger, who was obtaining an instrument clearance, reported that they were taxiing from the transit parking ramp onto taxiway H when they both felt the airplane lurch. Neither occupant of the Cessna 172S saw the Cessna 182T until after the impact occurred. Both pilots reported that their navigational and taxi lights were on at the time of the collision. A postaccident examination of the airport environment in similar lighting conditions to when the accident occurred revealed no airport obstructions that would have restricted the visibility of the pilots or affected their ability to see and avoid the other 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 NTSB's narrative for the Cessna 172S final · quoted from the NTSB record
Two Cessna airplanes collided while taxiing during nighttime operations. The Cessna 182T pilot reported that he was taxiing on taxiway H toward the runway when he suddenly noticed a white airplane, which was approaching from the right, appear in his windscreen. He applied maximum braking; however, his airplane's right wing impacted the other airplane's left wing. The Cessna 172S pilot, who was at the flight controls, and the pilot-rated passenger, who was obtaining an instrument clearance, reported that they were taxiing from the transit parking ramp onto taxiway H when they both felt the airplane lurch. Neither occupant of the Cessna 172S saw the Cessna 182T until after the impact occurred. Both pilots reported that their navigational and taxi lights were on at the time of the collision. A postaccident examination of the airport environment in similar lighting conditions to when the accident occurred revealed no airport obstructions that would have restricted the visibility of the pilots or affected their ability to see and avoid the other 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 182T from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Ground collision during taxi (to runway) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Monitoring other aircraft › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Light condition › Dark › Contributed to outcome
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 4,235 hours in all; 1,084 in this make and model; 39 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days; 1,916 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: January 15, 2013
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,059 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, May 20, 2013; 32 hours since
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540-AB1A5 (piston); 1,059 hours total
- Operator: Kqm Aviation
The flight
- Departed from: MYF San Diego CA at 3:45 am
- Destination: MYF San Diego CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 28R, 4,577 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night
- Wind: from 200° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 9 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 1,100 ft; clear
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 29.87 inHg
- Observation at 4:20 am from MYF
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
The factual record for the Cessna 172S from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Ground collision during taxi (to runway) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Monitoring other aircraft › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Light condition › Dark › Contributed to outcome
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 812 hours in all; 103 in this make and model; 35 in the last 90 days; 8 in the last 30 days; 568 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: July 28, 2012
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Pilot-Rated Passenger
- 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: 12,923 hours in all; 3,000 in this make and model; 128 in the last 90 days; 44 in the last 30 days; 12,823 as pilot in command; 10,000 on instruments
- Last flight review: July 29, 2013
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,375 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, June 5, 2013; 14 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,550 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-L2A (piston); 2,375 hours total
- Operator: Justice Aviation
The flight
- Departed from: MYF San Diego CA
- Destination: SMO Santa Monica CA
- Flight plan: IFR
- A second pilot was aboard
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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 N411CP the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
2004-11-08ATL05LA022 · accident near Chamblee, GA · substantial damage · minor injuries
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.