Cessna 172K accident near Newcastle, Utah, July 2, 2007
On July 2, 2007 at about 9:00 pm local time, a Cessna 172K, registered N84888, was substantially damaged in an accident near Newcastle, Utah (Dry Lake Bed airport). 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
The pilot's inadequate compensation for the gusty and crosswind condition, and his failure to maintain control of the airplane during takeoff.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 2, 2007 · about 9:00 pm local time
- Place
- Newcastle, Utah · Dry Lake Bed · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172K · all 172Ks on the register
- Registration
- N84888 · registry record · serial 17258655
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane collided with a dirt mound during an aborted takeoff from a dry lake bed. The student was familiar with the area and the dry lake, having previously landed there with his certified flight instructor and during solo flight training. During the accident sequence, the student attempted to depart utilizing a soft field technique in a gusty crosswind condition. The student took off in a westerly direction with the wind from about 200 degrees at 10 knots, with 15 knot gusts. A gust of wind was encountered after lifting off the ground, the airplane yawed while in ground effect, and the student elected to discontinue taking off. The aircraft touched down beyond the lake bed surface in a field of sparsely spaced small dirt mounds and bushes. Before the pilot could stop the airplane, it encountered a dirt mound with one landing gear.
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
Dual student
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 58 hours in all; 39 in this make and model; 58 in the last 90 days; 20 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A4M (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Newcastle UT at 9:00 pm
- Destination: CDC Cedar City UT
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 270, 4,000 ft by 300 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 200° at 11 knots, gusting 19
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 95°F (35°C), dew point 10°F (-12°C)
- Altimeter: 30.15 inHg
- Observation at 8:53 pm from CDC, 24 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.