LAX88FA146

Factual narrative

A CERTIFICATED PRIVATE PILOT AND HIS INSTRUCTOR, CONDUCTING TRAINING IN A 172P, WERE TURNING LEFT TO A SOUTHEASTERLY HEADING AT 3,400 FEET MSL, NEAR AN UNCONTROLLED AIRPORT. A CESSNA 172N ON A PLEASURE FLIGHT IN THE VICINITY WAS CLIMBING ON A SOUTHWESTERLY HEADING TO A CRUISE ALTITUDE OF 4,500 FEET MSL. A THIRD 172 WAS CLIMBING THROUGH 3,400 FEET MSL TO A 7,500 FEET MSL ALTITUDE ON A NORTHWEST HEADING. AS THE THREE AIRCRAFT MERGED AT 3,400 FEET MSL THE INSTRUMENT TRAINING CESSNA 172P AND THE PLEASURE FLIGHT 172N COLLIDED. THE CESSNA 172P'S EMPENNAGE WAS SEVERED AND THE AIRCRAFT PLUMMETED TO THE GROUND. THE IMPACT FATALLY INJURED THE INSTRUCTOR PILOT AND SERIOUSLY INJURED THE PRIVATE PILOT. THE CESSNA 172N WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED BUT LANDED WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT. THE THIRD AIRCRAFT WAS NOT INVOLVED IN THE COLLISION AND ITS PILOT DID NOT OBSERVE THE OTHER AIRCRAFT. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12