Cessna 172RG accident near Lee Vining, California, June 24, 1984
On June 24, 1984 at about 5:40 pm local time, a Cessna 172RG, registered N5269V, was destroyed in an accident near Lee Vining, California. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured and 1 person 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
- June 24, 1984 · about 5:40 pm local time
- Place
- Lee Vining, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172RG · all 172RGs on the register
- Registration
- N5269V · no longer on the register · serial 172RG0489
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT REPORTED THAT AFTER ENTERING TIOGA PASS, HE MADE A LEFT TURN TO FOLLOW THE CENTER OF THE PASS & THE ACFT BEGAN TO SINK. HE APPLIED FULL POWER & WENT TO THE BEST ANGLE OF CLIMB SPEED, BUT WAS UNABLE TO STOP THE SINK. THE ACFT THEN HIT AN ELECTRICAL TRANSMISSION TOWER, CRASHED & BEGAN BURNING. THE 2 PASSENGERS RECEIVED SERIOUS BURNS. THE PLT & A PERSON ON THE GROUND RECEIVED MINOR INJURIES. THE ELEVATION OF THE CRASH SITE WAS 9538 FT. THE DENSITY ALT WAS APRX 13,000 FT. GROUND WITNESSES SAID THE ACFT WAS FLYING EXCESSIVELY LOW PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT.
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: 550 hours in all; 450 in this make and model; 20 in the last 90 days; 530 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 675 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 1, 1984; 40 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,650 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-360 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: MMH Mammoth Lakes CA at 5:00 pm
- Destination: LVK Livermore CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 090° at 15 knots
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
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.