Cessna 172N accident near Delta, Utah, October 8, 1988
On October 8, 1988 at about 7:30 pm local time, a Cessna 172N, registered N75666, was substantially damaged in an accident near Delta, Utah (Delta airport). It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. 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
- October 8, 1988 · about 7:30 pm local time
- Place
- Delta, Utah · Delta · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172N · all 172Ns on the register
- Registration
- N75666 · no longer on the register · serial 17267877
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
ON A X-COUNTRY FLT, THE PLT ELECTED TO MAKE A REFUELING STOP AT DELTA, UT. HE TRANSMITTED ON UNICOM FREQ & GOT NO REPLY,BUT NOTED A LIGHT WIND FAVORING RWY 30 & RWY 34. HE ELECTED TO LAND ON RWY 30. HE SAID THAT ON FINAL APCH, HE LOOKED FORTRAFFIC TO RWY 34, BUT WHILE LOOKING, HE FAILED TO KEEP HIS ACFT ALIGNED WITH RWY 30. SUBSEQUENTLY, IT WENT OFF THE RWY AFTER TOUCHDOWN. THE PLT TRIED TO GO AROUND, BUT COULD NOT GAIN ENOUGH SPEED DUE TO BRUSH & SOFT SAND. HE SAW A FENCE AHEAD & 'JUMPED' THE ACFT OVER IT. WHEN THE ACFT SETTLED ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE FENCE, IT TOUCHED DOWN NOSEWHEEL FIRST, THE NOSE GEAR FAILED & THE PLANE NOSED OVER.
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: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 231 hours in all; 79 in this make and model; 6 in the last 90 days; 6 in the last 30 days; 189 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,500 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, August 19, 1988; 80 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-H2AD (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: L12 Redlands CA at 3:30 pm
- Destination: PVU Provo UT
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 30, 5,935 ft by 85 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 330° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
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.