Cessna 172N accident near Hayward, California, October 3, 1986
On October 3, 1986 at about 8:12 pm local time, a Cessna 172N, registered N6366D, was substantially damaged in an accident near Hayward, California (Hayward Air Terminal 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
- October 3, 1986 · about 8:12 pm local time
- Place
- Hayward, California · Hayward Air Terminal · 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
- N6366D · no longer on the register · serial 17272752
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
A CESSNA 172N LANDED ADJACENT TO RWY 28L. ACCORDING TO THE FAA THE SOLO STUDENT PLT WAS UNABLE TO CORRECT FOR A STRONG WIND AND LANDED IN A GRASS AREA SOUTH OF THE RUNWAY. THE WINDS WERE REPORTED FROM 360 DEG AT 17 KTS AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. THE PILOT'S OPERATING HANDBOOK FOR THE CESSNA 172N STATES, 'THE MAXIMUM ALLOWABLE CROSSWIND VELOCITY IS DEPENDENT UPON PILOT CAPABILITY AS WELL AS AIRCRAFT LIMITATIONS. WITH THE AVERAGE PILOT TECHNIQUE, DIRECT CROSSWINDS OF 15 KNOTS CAN BE HANDLED WITH SAFETY. THE STUDENT PLT INDICATED ON HIS PILOT/OPERATOR ACCIDENT REPORT THAT HE HAD ACCUMULATED A TOTAL OF 15 HRS FLIGHT EXPERIENCE, 4.1 HRS OF WHICH AS PIC.
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: 15 hours in all; 15 in this make and model; 11 in the last 90 days; 4 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,624 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, September 7, 1986; 25 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,150 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-H2AD (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SQL San Carlos CA at 7:00 pm
- Destination: HWD Hayward CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 28L, 5,019 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 360° at 17 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 39°F (4°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:19 pm from HWD
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.