Falcon Field Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Mesa, Arizona 85215
Thursday, July 25, 2002 16:00 MST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot was taxing to the run up area and collided with a Cessna 152 that was standing with engine running in the run up area. Before taxiing, the pilot completed a preflight inspection and a brake check, both of which showed no abnormalities with the airplane. He was taxiing at 1,000 rpm, which was about 13 miles per hour. Just before approaching the run up area, he began to reduce the throttle and applied brake pressure. The right brake did not respond. In an effort to avoid a propeller strike, the pilot decided to remain on the taxiway. He applied full left brake pressure and the airplane's left wing tip collided with this airplane's vertical stabilizer. The airplane continued to the left and departed the taxiway. The operator stated during recovery the airplane's brakes were tested. Both brakes appeared to be functioning properly. A repair shop that assessed the damage stated that after a thorough inspection, they could not find any malfunction of the braking system.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

the pilot's use of an excessive taxi speed and too close of a spacing interval to the airplane ahead, which resulted in an on-ground collision when the preceding airplane abruptly stopped.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 7/25/2002
Event Day of the Week Thursday
Time of Event 1600
Event Time Zone Mountain Standard Time
Event City Mesa
Event State ARIZONA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 85215
Event Date Year 2002
Event Date Month 7
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? Yes
Event Location Latitude 332739N
Event Location Longitude 1114342W
Event Location Airport Falcon Field Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID FFZ
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 1394
Weather Briefing Completeness Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1553 Mountain Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID SDL
Elevation of weather observation facility 1473
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 4
Time Zone of the weather observation MST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 39
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 17
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 250
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 7
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.89
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 2
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 15916
NTSB Notification Source FAA
NTSB Notification Date Jul 27 2002 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1600
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Jul 29 2004 7:30AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\MONR
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Scottsdale, AZ FSDO

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft #2

Aircraft Registration Number N97056 N152BR
NTSB Number LAX02LA241A LAX02LA241B
Missing Aircraft Indicator -- --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None None
Flight plan Was Activated? No No
Damage Minor Substantial
Aircraft Fire None None
Aircraft Explosion None None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Cessna Cessna
Aircraft Model 172P 152
Aircraft Series Identifier -- --
Aircraft Serial Number 172-76150 15285232
Certified Max Gross Weight 2400 1670
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 --
Date of Last Inspection Aug 2 2002 12:00AM --
Airframe hours since last inspection 50.6 --
Airframe Hours 11701.2 --
ELT Installed Yes Yes
ELT Activated No No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No No
ELT Type -- --
Aircraft Owner Name Sawyer School of Aviaiton Nancy Barlas
Aircraft Owner Street Address 15041 N Airport Drive --
Aircraft Owner City Scottsdale Santa Maria
Aircraft Owner State AZ CA
Aircraft Owner Country USA USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 85260 93455
Operator is an individual? No Yes
Operator Name -- Sawyer Avivation Training Center
Operator Same as Owner? Yes No
Operator Is Doing Business As -- --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes No
Operator Street Address -- 15041 Airport Dr.
Operator City -- Scottsdale
Operator State -- AZ
Operator Country -- USA
Operator Zip code -- 85260
Operator Code -- --
Owner has at least one certificate None None
Other Operator of large aircraft? -- --
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation -- --
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) Positioning Positioning
Second Pilot on Board No No
Departure Point Same as Event No No
Departure Airport Code FFZ FFZ
Departure City Mesa Mesa
Departure State AZ AZ
Departure Country USA USA
Departure Time 1550 1550
Departure Time Zone MST MST
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code SDL SDL
Destination City Scottsdale Scottsdale
Destination State AZ AZ
Destination Country USA USA
Specific Phase of Flight Taxi Standing - engine(s) operating
Report sent to ICAO? No No
Evacuation occurred No No
Date of most recent change to record May 17 2004 6:15PM May 17 2004 6:15PM
User who most recently changed record COOS COOS
Since inspection or accident Last Inspection --
Event Location Runway Number and Location NA NA
Runway Length -- --
Runway Width -- --
Sight Seeing flight No No
Air Medical Flight No No
Medical Flight -- --