Cessna 172M accident near Yuba City, California, August 15, 2004
On August 15, 2004 at about 5:40 pm local time, a Cessna 172M, registered CGTKX, was destroyed in an accident near Yuba City, California (Sutter County Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilot's failure to attain and maintain an adequate airspeed, which resulted in a stall.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 15, 2004 · about 5:40 pm local time
- Place
- Yuba City, California · Sutter County Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172M · all 172Ms on the register
- Registration
- CGTKX · no longer on the register · serial 17266625
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane collided with a sign, then stalled and impacted terrain while attempting a takeoff from a residential street. The street was about 2,000 feet in total length with a cul-de-sac on each end. Radar data showed that the airplane flew parallel to an airport runway about a mile to the west and then made a 630-degree turn (1 3/4 turns) over the accident area. The airplane landed toward the south on the road located in a housing development that was under construction and taxied back to the the north until it reached a parked semi truck that was about 1,300 feet from the south end of the road. The airplane then turned around facing the south. Witnesses said the the airplane momentarily stopped, with the engine revving, then it began to roll down the road and subsequently became airborne. During the initial climb, the airplane's left wing impacted a sign, and as it approached a power line pole, the nose pitched up. About 40 to 60 feet above ground level the airplane stalled and nose-dived toward the terrain. There was no evidence of premishap mechanical malfunctions observed during the examination of the engine and airframe. According to friends of the pilot, he could not hear the stall warning horn due to a hearing impairment condition.
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: foreign licence, private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 1,200 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,759.1 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 11, 2004
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2D (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: Yuba City CA
- Destination: APC Napa CA
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 29.98 inHg
- Observation at 5:53 pm from MYV, 2 miles away
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.