Cessna 172N accident near Thermal, California, May 13, 1986
On May 13, 1986 at about 7:52 pm local time, a Cessna 172N, registered N734TE, was substantially damaged in an accident near Thermal, California (Thermal airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was 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 13, 1986 · about 7:52 pm local time
- Place
- Thermal, California · Thermal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172N · all 172Ns on the register
- Registration
- N734TE · registry record · serial 17269094
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE STUDENT PILOT WAS RETURNING TO THERMAL AIRPORT, THERMAL, CA AFTER COMPLETING A ROUND ROBIN SOLO CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT. WHILE LANDING ON RUNWAY 30 THE STUDENT ENCOUNTERED A 90 DEGREE RIGHT CROSSWIND AND LOST CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE. THE AIRPLANE EXITED THE END OF THE RUNWAY AND NOSED OVER. THE STUDENT PILOT REPORTED THAT THE BRAKE SYSTEM FAILED. THE POST-ACCIDENT EXAMINATION OF THE BRAKE SYSTEM DISCLOSED NO EVIDENCE OF ANY PRE-EXISTING MALFUNCTIONS AND/OR FAILURES.
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: student
- Flight time: 37 hours in all; 37 in this make and model; 37 in the last 90 days; 20 in the last 30 days; 7 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,673 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, January 2, 1986; 40 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,150 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: APV Apple Valley CA at 6:50 pm
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 30, 5,000 ft by 200 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 210° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 93°F (34°C), dew point 43°F (6°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:57 pm from TRM
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.