Cessna 172M accident near Gasquet, California, August 4, 2006
On August 4, 2006 at about 7:30 pm local time, a Cessna 172M, registered N5262R, was substantially damaged in an accident near Gasquet, California (Ward Field). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilot's selection of a runway favoring tailwind conditions, his delayed decision to go around, and his failure to attain and maintain an adequate airspeed during the aborted landing. Contributing factors were the tailwind and wind shear conditions encountered on final approach.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 4, 2006 · about 7:30 pm local time
- Place
- Gasquet, California · Ward Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172M · all 172Ms on the register
- Registration
- N5262R · no longer on the register · serial 17263476
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane impacted a tree and a private residence after the pilot aborted the landing. The pilot said that when he entered the pattern he observed the windsock indicating calm conditions. He stated that the airplane encountered wind shear conditions while on final approach, which resulted in a 15 mph loss of airspeed and an increased descent rate. The pilot applied power to arrest the descent and recover the airspeed, but the groundspeed increased to a point that prompted him to go around. The pilot said the airplane failed to accelerate or climb and was near stall speed when it impacted the tops of trees off the departure end of the runway. The airplane pitched nose down and impacted a deck of a private residence. A witness reported that the airplane was attempting to land with a tailwind and touched down on the runway and "skipped," then took off again. The witness said the airplane was about 2/3 of the way down the length of the runway when it took off again, then she lost sight of it behind some trees off the end of the runway and heard the sounds of the crash.
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: 570 hours in all; 320 in this make and model; 5 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days; 529 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: June 1, 2005
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 8,011 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 1, 2005
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: CFC Crescent City CA at 6:55 pm
- Destination: 0O9 Gasquet CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 24, 2,990 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 210° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 59°F (15°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 29.88 inHg
- Observation at 6:56 pm from CEC, 11 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.