Cessna 172 accident near Paradise, Utah, June 21, 1987
On June 21, 1987 at about 8:15 pm local time, a Cessna 172, registered N7121A, was substantially damaged in an accident near Paradise, Utah (Forsberg Ranch airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 21, 1987 · about 8:15 pm local time
- Place
- Paradise, Utah · Forsberg Ranch · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172 · all 172s on the register
- Registration
- N7121A · registry record · serial 29221
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT DEPARTED BEAR LAKE ARPT, MONTPELIER, ID, AND FLEW TO LOGAN, UT. HE DEPARTED LOGAN AND FLEW TO HIS FATHER'S RANCH AT AVON, UT, NEAR PARADISE. A 1400-FT DIRT/GRAVEL DRIVEWAY LEADING TO THE RANCH HOUSE WAS USED AS A RWY. THE PLT SAID HE HELPED HIS FATHER INSTALL A BARBED WIRE FENCE NEAR THE RWY THRESHOLD TO KEEP CATTLE IN A PASTURE. HE SAID WHEN HE HAD LANDED AT THE RANCH ON PREVIOUS OCCASIONS, THE FENCE WAS NEVER UP. HE SAID THAT ON THE DAY OF THE ACCIDENT, CATTLE HAD BEEN MOVED FROM ONE PASTURE TO ANOTHER AND, UNKNOWN TO HIM, THE FENCE WAS RAISED. HE SAID HE DID NOT SEE THE FENCE WHEN HE CIRCLED THE RANCH AND ASSUMED IT WAS DOWN. THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH THE FENCE AS IT WAS FLARED FOR LANDING.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 321 hours in all; 11 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days; 297 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,953 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 12, 1986
- Maximum gross weight: 2,200 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-300-A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 107 Montpelier ID at 8:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 17, 1,400 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 220° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 86°F (30°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:55 pm from LGU, 13 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.