Cessna 172 accident near Skull Valley, Arizona, September 22, 2001
On September 22, 2001 at about 3:30 pm local time, a Cessna 172, registered N5792A, was substantially damaged in an accident near Skull Valley, Arizona (Quarter Circle C Ranch airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 2 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the loss of engine power during takeoff for undetermined reasons. A contributing factor was the lack of suitable terrain for the ensuing emergency landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 22, 2001 · about 3:30 pm local time
- Place
- Skull Valley, Arizona · Quarter Circle C Ranch · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 2 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172 · all 172s on the register
- Registration
- N5792A · no longer on the register · serial 28392
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane lost power shortly after takeoff from a dirt airstrip. The private pilot elected to land the airplane in a small field but the right wing clipped a tree during the emergency approach. Upon touchdown, the nose wheel impacted a rock, separated, and the airplane nosed over. The reason for the loss of engine power was not determined.
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: 181 hours in all; 158 in this make and model; 16 in the last 90 days; 6 in the last 30 days; 146 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: July 9, 2000
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,390.5 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 9, 2001; 54.7 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,200 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-300-C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 28E Skull Valley AZ at 2:30 pm
- Destination: 28E Skull Valley AZ
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 2, 2,900 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 360° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 2,500 ft
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.