Cessna 172P accident near Bryce Canyon, Utah, November 13, 1989
On November 13, 1989 at about 11:00 pm local time, a Cessna 172P, registered CGPGA, was substantially damaged in an accident near Bryce Canyon, Utah. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured; 3 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO ATTAIN ADEQUATE CLIMB SPEED. CONTRIBUTING FACTORS WERE: INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PLANNING IN THAT THE PILOT DID NOT ADEQUATELY CONSIDER THE HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE EFFECT ON THE AIRPLANE'S CLIMB PERFORMANCE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 13, 1989 · about 11:00 pm local time
- Place
- Bryce Canyon, Utah
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured; 3 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172P · all 172Ps on the register
- Registration
- CGPGA · no longer on the register
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT SAID HE SELECTED 10 DEG OF FLAPS AND TOOK OFF ON RWY 21. WINDS WERE FROM 240 DEG AT 10, GUSTING TO 15 KTS. THE AIRPLANE USED ABOUT 2500 FT OF THE 7400-FT RUNWAY. AFTER THE AIRPLANE REACHED 400 FT AGL, IT WOULD NOT CLIMB ANY MORE SO THE PLT TURNED RIGHT, INCREASED THE ANGLE OF ATTACK, AND NOTICED THE AIRSPEED DECAYING. THE PLT SAID HE SELECTED A LANDING AREA AND MADE AN EMERGENCY LANDING. THE PLANE HIT A RIDGE, BOUNCED OVER A FENCE, SKIDDED THROUGH A SMALL DITCH, AND CAME TO REST IN A DEPRESSION. THE LANDING GEAR COLLAPSED. THE ARPT ELEV WAS 7586 FT; DENSITY ALT WAS ESTD TO BE 8750 FT.
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: 188 hours in all; 188 in this make and model; 42 in the last 90 days; 15 in the last 30 days; 104 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,987 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, October 30, 1989; 20 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,400 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-D2J (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: IDA Idaho Falls ID
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 240° at 10 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 50°F (10°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 2 |
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.