Cessna 172B accident near Tracy, California, May 18, 1986
On May 18, 1986 at about 3:00 am local time, a Cessna 172B, registered N7176T, was substantially damaged in an accident near Tracy, California. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 4 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 18, 1986 · about 3:00 am local time
- Place
- Tracy, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172B · all 172Bs on the register
- Registration
- N7176T · registry record · serial 17246776
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT VEERED OFF A RURAL DIRT ROAD BEING USED AS AN AIRSTRIP AND NOSED OVER IN A FARM FIELD. THE PLT INDICATED THAT HE WAS ATTEMPTING TO LAND ON A NARROW DIRT FARM ROAD WHEN THE ACFT VEERED INTO A FRESHLY PLOWED AND IRRIGATED TOMATO FIELD. THE NOSE GEAR SANK AND THE ACFT NOSED OVER. THE PLT ALSO INDICATED THAT THE DIRT ROAD WAS APRX 10 FT WIDE. THE OPERATORS MANUAL FOR THE CESSNA 172A ILLISTRATES THE WIDTH OF THE MAIN LANDING GEAR AS 7 FT 2 INCHES.
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; single-engine sea
- Flight time: 574 hours in all; 409 in this make and model; 7 in the last 90 days; 499 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,651 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 1, 1985; 32 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,200 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-300 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Tracy CA at 11:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0, 2,500 ft by 10 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
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.