Cessna 170B accident near Yucca Valley, California, January 17, 1987
On January 17, 1987 at about 9:55 pm local time, a Cessna 170B, registered N2293D, was destroyed in an accident near Yucca Valley, California (Yucca Valley airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. 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
- January 17, 1987 · about 9:55 pm local time
- Place
- Yucca Valley, California · Yucca Valley · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 170B · all 170Bs on the register
- Registration
- N2293D · no longer on the register · serial 20445
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT REPORTED THAT DURING THE TAKEOFF ROLL, A WIND GUST CAUSED THE LEFT WING TO RAISE AND THE AIRPLANE VEERED TO THE RIGHT. HE IMMEDIATELY APPLIED LEFT AILERON AND RUDDER, BUT TO NO AVAIL. THE AIRPLANE WENT OFF THE RUNWAY, HIT A TREE AND FENCE, AND SUBSEQUENTLY CAME TO REST WITH ITS NOSE IN A DRAINED SWIMMING POOL. NO PREIMPACT MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION OR FAILURE WAS REPORTED. THE WIND WAS REPORTED TO BE FROM THE NORTHWEST AT 25 GUSTING 30 KNOTS. THE MAXIMUM DEMONSTRATED CROSSWIND CAPABILITY OF THE AIRPLANE WAS 17 KTS.
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: 1,200 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 2,200 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental C-145-2 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: L22 CA at 9:55 pm
- Destination: PSP Palm Springs CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 6, 3,686 ft by 90 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 330° at 25 knots, gusting 30
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.