Cessna 172F accident near Redlands, California, January 3, 2004
On January 3, 2004 at about 8:00 pm local time, a Cessna 172F, registered N5184F, was substantially damaged in an accident near Redlands, California (Redlands Municipal 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 pilot's inadequate compensation for the existing gusty crosswind condition, and his failure to maintain directional control. Contributing factors were a crosswind and wind gusts.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 3, 2004 · about 8:00 pm local time
- Place
- Redlands, California · Redlands Municipal Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172F · all 172Fs on the register
- Registration
- N5184F · registry record · serial 17253124
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane collided with a light post while attempting a go-around. Reported conditions were: winds at 15 knots with gusts to 27 knots; windshear; and a strong crosswind. During the landing roll, the airplane encountered a gust of wind in excess of 30 knots. The airplane veered off the runway into the adjacent gravel area. The pilot applied full power to regain flight control so that he could perform a go-around. After becoming airborne, the leading edge of the airplane's left wing collided with a light post, damaging the aileron. With the left flight control surface damaged, the pilot decided to return to the flight's origin point where the winds were from 030 degrees at 8 knots. He landed uneventfully. The pilot did not report any mechanical problems with the airplane prior to the accident.
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: 350 hours in all; 60 in this make and model; 100 in the last 90 days; 36 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3
The aircraft
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-300-D2D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: RAL Riverside CA
- Destination: L12 Redlands CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 26
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.