Cessna 172P accident near Tooele, Utah, November 1, 1997
On November 1, 1997 at about 5:55 pm local time, a Cessna 172P, registered N96575, was substantially damaged in an accident near Tooele, Utah (Bolinder Field). It was an instructional 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
failure of the pilot to maintain directional control of the airplane, while landing. Factors related to the accident were: the pilot's improper flare for landing, his delay in attempting to go around (abort the landing), and the encounter with a runway marker and a fence.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 1, 1997 · about 5:55 pm local time
- Place
- Tooele, Utah · Bolinder Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172P · all 172Ps on the register
- Registration
- N96575 · registry record · serial 17276089
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The student pilot had planned to practice stop-and-go landings on runway 34. He said the airplane touched down on all three wheels simultaneously, because he did not flare sufficiently. The left main and nose wheel came up, but instead of going around, he pushed the nose down. The airplane began to veer to the left, and the student corrected by applying right rudder. When the left main wheel contacted the runway, the airplane veered further to the left. The student applied additional right rudder retracted the flaps and added power to abort the landing. As the airplane departed the left side of the runway, the student closed the throttle and applied brakes. The left wing struck a 3,000-foot marker sign, and the airplane collided with a fence.
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: 30 hours in all; 30 in this make and model; 26 in the last 90 days; 16 in the last 30 days; 2 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 7,176 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 29, 1997; 30 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,400 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-D2J (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Great Western Aviation
The flight
- Departed from: SLC Salt Lake City UT at 4:50 pm
- Destination: TVY
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 34, 5,498 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 310° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 39°F (4°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.