VANCOUVER, WA, USA
N2582J
CESSNA 150E
N20938
CESSNA 172M
THE CESSNA 172 HAD ENTERED THE PATTERN ON DOWNWIND AND WAS ESTABLISHED ON A LONG FINAL FOR RUNWAY 10L. THE CESSNA 150 WHICH WAS RETURNING FROM AN INSTRUCTIONAL FLIGHT, WAS OBSERVED EXECUTING A CLOSE IN BASE LEG AND DESCENDING STEEPLY. THE CESSNA 150'S LEFT WING IMPACTED THE CESSNA 172'S DORSAL FIN AND VERTICAL STABILIZER ON SHORT FINAL. THE CESSNA 172 WAS OBSERVED TO COMPLETE APPROXIMATELY 270 DEGREES OF A LOOP BEFORE IMPACTING THE GROUND. THE CESSNA 150 ROLLED LEFT AND IMPACTED THE GROUND IN A NOSE LOW INVERTED ATTITUDE. BOTH AIRCRAFT HAD ONLY THEIR SINGLE ANTI COLLISION BEACONS OPERATING BUT NOT THEIR TAXI/LANDING LIGHTS. THE CESSNA 172'S STROBE LIGHT WAS NOT SWITCHED ON AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. THE SUN'S ELEVATION WAS DETERMINED TO BE 5 TO 7 DEGREES ABOVE THE HORIZON AT AN AZIMUTH OF 212 TO 215 DEGREES MAGNETIC.
INADEQUATE VISUAL LOOKOUT ON THE PART OF BOTH THE FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR AND STUDENT AS WELL AS THE PILOT OF THE OTHER AIRCRAFT. FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WERE SUN GLARE AND THE OTHER PILOT'S LACK OF LANDING/STROBE LIGHT USAGE.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
Aviation Accidents App
In-Depth Access to Aviation Accident Reports
