Cessna 172S accident near Oceanside, California, June 23, 2008
On June 23, 2008, a Cessna 172S, registered N2436F, was destroyed in an accident during maneuvering (aerobatics) near Oceanside, California (Oceanside Municipal Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed and 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
Failure of the pilot to regain airplane control during an intentional stall/spin maneuver.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 23, 2008
- Place
- Oceanside, California · Oceanside Municipal Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed and 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172S · all 172Ss on the register
- Registration
- N2436F · no longer on the register · serial 172S10145
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
Witnesses flying in a second airplane reported that the two airplanes left their home airport earlier in the day. They flew to another local area airport for a snack where they discussed the return flight (the accident flight). The accident pilot told his peers that he was going to do a spin on the way back to their home airport. He said that he had done spins before with a flight instructor and a passenger in the back. The two airplanes departed the local airport and were en route back to the home airport when the accident airplane radioed the other airplane indicating that he was setting up for the stall/spin maneuver. The pilots in the other airplane watched as the accident airplane began a climb from 5,500 feet to 7,500 feet and commenced with the stall/spin. After one full turn, the airplane returned to normal flight. The accident pilot radioed the other pilots and told them he was going to do another stall/spin, and was going to let it spin a "little more before he start[ed] the recovery." The witnesses observed the accident airplane set up for another spin, enter the spin, and watched as the airplane continued to spin until it crashed into the ocean. According to Cessna, intentional spins are prohibited when the rear seat(s) are occupied. Three people were on board the accident airplane. The airplane and two of its occupants were not located despite efforts by the United States Coast Guard and a private diving company.
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
- Simulated/training event during maneuvering (aerobatics)
- Aerodynamic stall/spin during maneuvering (aerobatics) defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during uncontrolled descent
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › (general) › Not attained/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 72 hours in all; 72 in this make and model; 10 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: June 1, 2008
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,009 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, June 16, 2008; 9 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,550 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-L2A (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: San Diego Flight Training International, Inc.
The flight
- Departed from: LGB Long Beach CA at 11:10 pm
- Destination: MYF San Diego CA
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 210° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 9 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 64°F (18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.88 inHg
- Observation at 11:52 pm from OKB, 3 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 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.