Gilbert Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Winter Haven, Florida 33881
Thursday, April 29, 1999 17:55 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The 152 had been practicing full-stop landings and had remained in the pattern. A 172 had departed Kissimmee, Florida, for a touch and go landing at Gilbert Airport. The witnesses stated that they heard the pilot of the 152, over the Unicom frequency, announcing his left downwind, base and final approach positions. Witnesses said the 172 was observed making a right downwind approach and an abbreviated base to final to runway 29 above the 152. A witness who was in his aircraft at the hold short line attempted to warn the 172 over the Unicom frequency of 122.7 several times; however, there was no reply. The 172 impacted the top of the 152 about 30 feet above the ground, forcing the 152 into the ground. The 172 pitched up, rolled right and nosed into the ground coming to rest on its back. The 152 landed hard on its main gear, and slid to a stop. Title 14 CFR Part 91.113(g)Landing, states in part; 'Aircraft, while on final approach to land or while landing, have the right-of-way over other aircraft in flight or operating on the surface'.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The CFI's failure to maintain visual lookout. A factor was his disregard for VFR Traffic pattern procedures.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 4/29/1999
Event Day of the Week Thursday
Time of Event 1755
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City WINTER HAVEN
Event State FLORIDA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 33881
Event Date Year 1999
Event Date Month 4
MidAir Collision Indicator Yes
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport GILBERT
Event Location Nearest Airport ID GIF
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 110
Airport Elevation 146
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1745 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 200
Weather Observation Facility ID PIE
Elevation of weather observation facility 11
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 20
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 27
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 19
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 110
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 3
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) 1377
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Serious
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 1
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious 2
Injury Total All 3
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1359
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Apr 29 1999 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1900
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Jan 10 2001 9:45AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft #2

Aircraft Registration Number N739FX N48870
NTSB Number ATL99FA078A ATL99FA078B
Missing Aircraft Indicator N N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None None
Flight plan Was Activated? -- --
Damage Substantial Substantial
Aircraft Fire None None
Aircraft Explosion None None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Cessna Cessna
Aircraft Model 172N 152
Aircraft Series Identifier 172N 152
Aircraft Serial Number 172-70518 152-81015
Certified Max Gross Weight 2300 1600
Aircraft Category Airplane Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No No
Flight Crew Seats -- --
Cabin Crew Seats -- --
Passenger Seats -- --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 4 2
Number of Engines 1 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection 100 Hour 100 Hour
Date of Last Inspection Apr 23 1999 12:00AM Apr 18 1999 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 19 42
Airframe Hours 2131 7826
ELT Installed Yes Yes
ELT Activated Yes No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No Unknown
ELT Type -- --
Aircraft Owner Name AERO L'AQUILLA INC BRITANNIA FLIGHT CENTER
Aircraft Owner Street Address 606 DYER DLVD 3000 21ST ST NW.
Aircraft Owner City KISSIMMEE WINTER HAVEN
Aircraft Owner State FL FL
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 34741 33881
Operator is an individual? -- --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As -- --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes Yes
Operator Street Address
Operator City
Operator State
Operator Country
Operator Zip code
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown Unknown
Operator Certificate Number -- --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not -- --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight -- --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail -- --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Instructional Instructional
Second Pilot on Board No No
Departure Point Same as Event No Yes
Departure Airport Code ISM GIF
Departure City KISSIMMEE
Departure State FL
Departure Country
Departure Time 1740 1710
Departure Time Zone EDT EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code GIF
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Approach Approach
Report sent to ICAO? -- --
Evacuation occurred -- --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 10 2001 12:26PM Jan 10 2001 12:26PM
User who most recently changed record dbo dbo
Since inspection or accident -- --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 29 29
Runway Length 4000 4000
Runway Width 100 100
Sight Seeing flight No No
Air Medical Flight No No
Medical Flight -- --