WPR18CA059
2017-12-26 · Santa Ana, California, United States · None · 1 aircraft · Status: Completed
Airport SNA
Current FAA registration · N698MC
- Make / Model
- CESSNA 182S
- Year of manufacture
- 1998 · 19 years old at event
- Engine
- LYCOMING I0360 SER A&C (200 hp)
- Seats / Engines
- 4 seats · 1 engine
- Last airworthiness date
- 19980921
- ADS-B equipped
- Yes — Mode-S A94984
Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).
Aircraft involved
Probable cause & findings
The pilot’s failure to follow ground control instructions and to see and avoid ground obstacles while taxiing.
Factual narrative
The pilot reported that he was high on the approach for landing, and partially focused on the tower controller's warning about heavy wake turbulence from landing jet traffic on the parallel runway. The pilot touched down about 1,800 ft or longer down the runway and subsequently ran off the end. The controller instructed him to turn around and exit the runway at taxiway Hotel, however in confusion, the pilot turned toward the main terminal. The controller then instructed the pilot to make a 180o turn, however he was now in the way of a taxiing incoming jet airplane. He moved to the left and subsequently struck an unmanned guard shack. A postaccident examination revealed substantial damage to the left wing. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot reported that he was high on the approach for landing and partially focused on the tower controller's warning about heavy wake turbulence from landing jet traffic on the parallel runway. The airplane touched down about 1,800 ft or longer down the runway and subsequently ran off the end. The controller instructed him to turn around and exit the runway at taxiway Hotel; however, in confusion, the pilot turned toward the main terminal. The controller then instructed the pilot to make a 180o turn; however, he was now in the way of a taxiing incoming jet airplane. He moved the airplane to the left and subsequently struck an unmanned guard shack. Postaccident examination revealed substantial damage to the left wing. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database Retrieved: 2026-02-12
NTSB Findings
FAA avdata. C = Cause, F = Factor.
- C Personnel issues-Task performance-Communication (personnel)-Following instructions-Pilot - C
- C Personnel issues-Psychological-Attention/monitoring-Monitoring environment-Pilot - C
- C Environmental issues-Physical environment-Object/animal/substance-Residence/building-Effect on operation - C
Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file
NTSB_2017_WPR18CA059.txt.
Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb.
Full investigation docket on
data.ntsb.gov ↗.
Search this event elsewhere
External sources are reported, not agency: signal that something happened, not fact about what happened.
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Related research
Matched on aircraft type or causal vocabulary (wake turbulence, turbulence). All research papers
- NASA NTRS 2019 · Conference Paper Aircraft wake turbulence minimization by aerodynamic means
The paper reviews NASA's efforts on wake vortex turbulence minimization by aerodynamic design or retrofit modifications to large transport aircraft.
- NASA NTRS 2019 · Conference Paper Wake Turbulence Mitigation for Arrivals (WTMA)
The preliminary Wake Turbulence Mitigation for Arrivals (WTMA) concept of operations is described in this paper. The WTMA concept provides further detail to work initiated by the Wake Vortex Avoidance…
- NASA NTRS 2019 · Conference Paper Aircraft wake turbulence avoidance
Aircraft wake turbulence /trailing vortex systems/ avoidance during flight, describing procedures for pilots and tower operators
- NASA NTRS 2019 · Conference Paper Aircraft wake turbulence progress and plans
Aircraft wake turbulence and trailing vortices, investigating physical characteristics, hazard potential and avoidance techniques
- SKYbrary (Eurocontrol) 2023 · SKYbrary article Wake Vortex Turbulence — SKYbrary Knowledge Base
SKYbrary wake vortex turbulence comprehensive article — generation mechanics, dissipation factors, separation standards (ICAO LIGHT/MEDIUM/HEAVY/SUPER + recategorisation RECAT-EU).
- NASA NTRS 2019 · Contractor Report (CR) An Examination of Aviation Accidents Associated with Turbulence, Wind Shear and Thunderstorm
The focal point of the study reported here was the definition and examination of turbulence, wind shear and thunderstorm in relation to aviation accidents.