NTSB Factual Report

On December 22, 2005, at 1054 Pacific standard time, a Beech F33A, N3084N, collided with a Cessna 172N, N738AH, that was on short final for runway 26L at the Brackett Field Airport, La Verne, California. Neither the commercial pilot in the Beech nor the student pilot in the Cessna were injured. The Cessna 172 sustained substantial damage, while the Beech F33A was not damaged. The pilot of the Beech was operating the airplane under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91 as a personal flight, while the student pilot was operating the Cessna under the provisions of the 14 CFR Part 91 as a solo instructional flight. The Beech departed Santa Barbara, California, around 1000, and was destined for La Verne. The Cessna was conducting a local training flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a flight plan was not filed for either flight.

According to the Beech pilot, the air traffic controller cleared him to land on runway 26R. He accidentally set up for landing on runway 26L. While on short final, he felt his airplane hit something and immediately heard the controller instruct him to go around. The pilot went around and set up for an uneventful landing. He later learned that he impacted a Cessna that was on short final for runway 26L. The Cessna continued with an uneventful landing.

According to the Cessna pilot, he was conducting his fourth solo and was practicing takeoff and landings at the airport. The control tower had cleared the Cessna pilot for the option on runway 26L. While he was on final approach, the Beech lined up on the wrong runway and overtook his airplane, impacting the top of the Cessna. The student continued with the uneventful landing.

The Beech was not damaged, but the Cessna's left wing was bent up about 30 degrees.

NTSB Probable Cause

the failure of the pilot to comply with his air traffic control clearance and line up for the proper runway, and his failure to maintain an adequate visual lookout, which resulted in his in-flight collision with the Cessna airplane.