Cessna 172RG accident near San Diego, California, November 20, 2006
On November 20, 2006 at about 1:15 am local time, a Cessna 172RG, registered N28RJ, was substantially damaged in an accident near San Diego, California (Montgomery Field). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
An undetermined total electrical failure. The pilot's failure to extend the landing gear to the down and locked position was a factor.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 20, 2006 · about 1:15 am local time
- Place
- San Diego, California · Montgomery Field
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172RG · all 172RGs on the register
- Registration
- N28RJ · registry record · serial 172RG0869
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to a report obtained from the airport manager, the airplane experienced a complete electrical failure during the flight. The pilot elected to return and land at the departure airport. After receiving a clearance to land from the tower (via light gun signal), the pilot prepared for landing and moved the landing gear handle to the down position. The landing gear dropped from their bays, but did not extend and lock into place. The pilot did not pump the emergency landing gear extension handle to lock the landing gear in the down position. As the aircraft touched down on the runway, the main landing gear legs folded back into their retracted position. The left wing and horizontal stabilizer contacted the runway as the aircraft came to a stop in an upright position. The airplane sustained substantial damage to its left horizontal stabilizer. The reason for the electrical failure 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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 532 hours in all; 88 in this make and model; 5 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days; 454 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: July 1, 2005
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-F1A6 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Golden Wing Flying Club
The flight
- Departed from: MYF at 4:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 28R, 4,577 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night
- Wind: from 260° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 43°F (6°C)
- Altimeter: 29.98 inHg
- Observation at 1:53 am from MYF
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number LAX07LA039.