Cessna 172N accident near Hayward, California, May 21, 1984
On May 21, 1984 at about 11:30 pm local time, a Cessna 172N, registered N734TH, was substantially damaged in an accident near Hayward, California (Hayward Air Terminal airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. 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
- May 21, 1984 · about 11:30 pm local time
- Place
- Hayward, California · Hayward Air Terminal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172N · all 172Ns on the register
- Registration
- N734TH · no longer on the register · serial 17269097
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT LANDED HARD AND PORPOISED DOWN THE RWY. THE PLT MADE A GO-AROUND AND REPORTED TO THE TOWER THAT HE HAD CONTROL PROBLEMS. HE PERFORMED A TOWER FLY-BY AND NO DAMAGE WAS APPARENT TO THE CONTROLLERS. THE PLT WAS CLEARED FOR LANDING ANDDID SO WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT. UPON INSPECTION,THE FIRE WALL WAS FOUND TO BE BUCKLED,THE NOSE WHEEL STRUT CANTED THE FUSELAGE WAS WRINKLED AND THE FLOOR WAS CAVED IN SO THAT THE VERTICAL INSTRUMENT PANEL SUPPORT WAS PULLED DOWN ON THE PUSH-PULL ROD FOR THE AILERON AND ELEVATOR.
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: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 91 hours in all; 91 in this make and model; 5 in the last 90 days; 29 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,941 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 8, 1984
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 HZAD (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Siegel Aviation
The flight
- Departed from: HWD Hayward CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 28R, 3,536 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:48 pm from HWD
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.