Cessna 172N accident near Hayward, California, April 25, 1982
On April 25, 1982 at about 8:56 pm local time, a Cessna 172N, registered N21551, was substantially damaged in an accident near Hayward, California (Hayward Air Terminal airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 25, 1982 · about 8:56 pm local time
- Place
- Hayward, California · Hayward Air Terminal
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172N · all 172Ns on the register
- Registration
- N21551 · no longer on the register · serial 17263969
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE ON FINAL APPROACH FOR A SIMULATED SHORT FIELD LANDING, THE ENGINE LOST POWER. THE PILOTS WERE UNABLE TO RESTART THE ENGINE, AND THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK A FENCE AND NOSED OVER DURING THE LANDING. CONDITIONS WERE FAVORABLE FOR CARBURETOR ICE, BUT THE INSTRUCTOR REPORTED THAT THE CARBURETOR HEAT WAS ON. AN EXAMINATION OF THE AIRCRAFT REVEALED NO PREIMPACT FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION. THE ENGINE STARTED AND RAN DURING AN OPERATIONAL CHECK.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 962 hours in all; 200 in this make and model; 121 in the last 90 days; 834 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,093 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 8 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Hayward CA at 12:00 pm
- Destination: Hayward CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 28L, 5,156 ft by 150 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 260° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 12,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 142°F (61°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
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.