Cessna 172M accident near Byron, California, June 9, 2008
On June 9, 2008 at about 5:20 pm local time, a Cessna 172M, registered N9328H, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Byron, California (Byron 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 student pilot's failure to maintain directional control during landing rollout.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 9, 2008 · about 5:20 pm local time
- Place
- Byron, California · Byron · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172M · all 172Ms on the register
- Registration
- N9328H · registry record · serial 17266088
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The student pilot landed on runway 30, which is 4,500-foot-long by 100-foot wide. During rollout, the airplane began veering toward the right side of the runway. The student reported that he "stepped on the right rudder/brakes" and "lost directional control." An estimated 30-foot-long skid mark was observed on the runway leading off its right side. Thereafter, the airplane entered a grassy open field and came to rest upon colliding with the up sloping side of a ravine.
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
What happened, in order
- Loss of control on ground during landing (landing roll) defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- factor Environmental issues › Operating environment › Airport facilities/design › (general) › Not specified
Dual student
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 72 hours in all; 70 in this make and model; 72 in the last 90 days; 27 in the last 30 days; 3 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,900 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 1, 2008
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Bel-Air International
The flight
- Departed from: SQL San Carlos CA at 4:00 pm
- Destination: C83 Byron CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 30, 4,500 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 330° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 90°F (32°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 29.97 inHg
- Observation at 6:31 pm from C83
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.