Cessna 172N accident near Anza, California, March 31, 1985
On March 31, 1985 at about 5:25 pm local time, a Cessna 172N, registered N738UZ, was substantially damaged in an accident near Anza, California (Lake Riverside airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured and 3 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
- March 31, 1985 · about 5:25 pm local time
- Place
- Anza, California · Lake Riverside
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 3 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172N · all 172Ns on the register
- Registration
- N738UZ · no longer on the register · serial 17270260
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AFTER MAKING TWO PREVIOUS TAKEOFFS AND ONE LANDING IN AN OVERLOADED AIRPLANE THE PILOT LANDED ABOUT 1000 FEET DOWN A 3200 FOOT RUNWAY. WHEN THE AIRCRAFT FAILED TO DECELERATE QUICKLY ENOUGH AND THE PILOT ATTEMPTED A GO-AROUND TOWARD RISING TERRAIN. THE AIRCRAFT FAILED TO OUT CLIMB THE TERRAIN AND THE PILOT INITIATED AN OFF AIRPORT LANDING. THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED A FENCE, DIRT BANK AND NOSED OVER ON ITS BACK. DENSITY ALTITUDE AT THE ACCIDENT SITE AT THE TIME WAS 3400 FT MSL.
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: 227 hours in all; 30 in this make and model; 48 in the last 90 days; 179 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (expired)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 853 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, February 25, 1985; 31 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-H2AD (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Modern Aero Of California
The flight
- Departed from: L66 Corona CA at 5:00 pm
- Destination: Anza CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 28, 3,200 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 120° at 1 knots
- Visibility: 65 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 57°F (14°C), dew point 34°F (1°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:55 pm from RIV, 32 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 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.