Cessna 172M accident near Oakland, California, May 3, 1986
On May 3, 1986 at about 2:15 pm local time, a Cessna 172M, registered N9656V, was substantially damaged in an accident near Oakland, California. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
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 3, 1986 · about 2:15 pm local time
- Place
- Oakland, California
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172M · all 172Ms on the register
- Registration
- N9656V · no longer on the register · serial 17264436
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
BEFORE TAKEOFF, THE PLT TUNED IN THE HAYWARD ATIS & RECEIVED INFORMATION ALPHA, WHICH RPRTD THE WX WAS: 2200' SCATTERED,3000' OVERCAST & VISIBILITY 8 MI. AFTER TAKING OFF FROM RWY 28R, THE PLT CLIMBED TO ABOUT 650' & MADE A RGT TURN. AT ABOUT THAT TIME, THE ACFT ENCOUNTERED CLOUDS & THE PLT TRIED TO RETURN TO THE HAYWARD ARPT. WHILE TRYING TO AVOID THE CLOUDS, HE 'ENDED UP . . . CLIMBING UP TO 1600 FEET.' HE CONTACTED OAKLAND TOWER & TURNED EAST TOWARD THE OAKLAND HILLS, WHILE AVOIDING CONTROLLED AIRSPACE AT ALAMEDA. PERSONNEL AT OAKLAND TWR DID NOT HAVE RADAR CONTACT WITH THE ACFT & ASKED THE PLT TO CHANGE HIS TRANSPONDER CODE. AT ABOUT THAT TIME, AS THE PLT WAS MANEUVERING UNDER A CLOUD, THE ACFT HIT THE TOPS OF TREES & CAME TO REST AGAINST A LIGHT POLE. THE PLT ESTIMATED THE CRASH SITE WAS APRX 7 MILES NORTHEAST OF THE HAYWARD ARPT.
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
- Flight time: 387 hours in all; 123 in this make and model; 15 in the last 90 days; 9 in the last 30 days; 254 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,520 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 25, 1985
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: HWD Hayward CA
- Destination: 023 Chico CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 210° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 8 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded at 3,000 ft; not recorded at 2,200 ft
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:45 pm from OAK, 8 miles away
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.