Probable cause
The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from a parked vehicle during taxi.
NTSB analysis
While taxing at night from a parking area to runway 30 for takeoff, the commercial pilot inadvertently departed the taxiway and entered onto a service road. While trying to re-enter the taxiway from the service road the left wing tip struck a parked van. The airplane then pivoted around and struck a storage container. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing. The pilot reported no mechanical malfunctions prior to the accident.
Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for WPR09CA447 for the full record.
Event
- Date
- Sep 8, 2009
- Type
- Accident
- Place
- Long Beach, California
- Nearest airport
- Long Beach Airport (LGB)
- Highest injury
- None
- Weather
- Visual (VMC)
- Light
- Night
Cessna 172P
- N-number
- N51594
- Category
- Airplane
- Damage
- Substantial
- Operating rule
- Part 91 (general aviation)
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
From the NTSB aviation accident database: N-registered aircraft, events since 2008, data through Oct 28, 2026. The file is published monthly, so the latest weeks are incomplete and recent records can change. The official source is the NTSB aviation investigation search. CheckAero is independent and not affiliated with the NTSB.