Cessna 172E accident near Lower Lake, California, August 30, 1986
On August 30, 1986 at about 2:05 am local time, a Cessna 172E, registered N3651S, was substantially damaged in an accident near Lower Lake, California (Lower Lake airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. 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
- August 30, 1986 · about 2:05 am local time
- Place
- Lower Lake, California · Lower Lake · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172E · all 172Es on the register
- Registration
- N3651S · no longer on the register · serial 17250851
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE AIRPLANE DEPARTED ON A LOCAL SIGHT-SEEING FLIGHT AT LOWER LAKE, CALIFORNIA. A NONCURRENT COMMERCIAL PILOT WAS FLYING THE AIRPLANE; THE PIC, A CURRENT COMMERCIAL PILOT, WAS OCCUPYING THE RIGHT FRONT SEAT. THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH SOME 12-FOOT HIGH MANZANITA BUSHES ABT 1/4 MILE SOUTHEAST OF THE RUNWAY THRESHOLD WHILE ON FINAL APPROACH TO RUNWAY 30. THE PILOT FLYING THE AIRPLANE REPORTED THAT THE PIC PULLED OFF THE POWER WHILE ON FINAL APPROACH AND THE AIRPLANE CRASHED; THE RIGHT REAR SEAT PASSENGER CONFIRMED THE PILOT'S STATEMENT. THE PIC REPORTED THAT HE WAS NOT THE PIC AND THAT HE DID NOT KNOW THE COMMERCIAL PILOT WAS NOT CURRENT. THE PIC OWNS THE AIRPLANE. THE PIC FURTHER REPORTED THAT WHEN ON FINAL APPROACH THE AIRPLANE WAS TOO LOW AND HE ADVISED THE PILOT ACCORDINGLY. HE THEN TOOK CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE AND DURING THE INTERVAL THE AIRPLANE LOST 100 FEET OF ALTITUDE AND COLLIDED WITH THE HIGH MANZANITA BUSHES.
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: 3,599 hours in all; 53 in the last 90 days; 20 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,800 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 30, 1986; 12 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-300 SER (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 30, 2,485 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 280° at 15 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 | |||
| 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.