Cessna 172M accident near Oakdale, California, January 19, 1987
On January 19, 1987 at about 9:00 pm local time, a Cessna 172M, registered N12551, was substantially damaged in an accident near Oakdale, California (Oakdale 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
- January 19, 1987 · about 9:00 pm local time
- Place
- Oakdale, California · Oakdale · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172M · all 172Ms on the register
- Registration
- N12551 · no longer on the register · serial 17262065
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING A SOLO INSTRUCTIONAL FLIGHT THE STUDENT PILOT WAS PRACTICING TOUCH AND GO LANDINGS. UPON TAKE-OFF ON RUNWAY 28, THE WIND WAS LIGHT FROM 100 DEGREES. ON THE FIRST LANDING THE WIND HAD CHANGED TO A RIGHT CROSS WIND FROM THE NORTH. THE PILOT COMPENSATED FOR THE CROSS WIND AND LANDED WITHOUT INCIDENT. THE SECOND LANDING THE CROSS WIND HAD INCREASED TO APPROXIMATELY 18 KNOTS. ON TOUCH DOWN THE PILOT LOST CONTROL AND THE AIRCRAFT VEERED TO THE LEFT, OFF THE RUNWAY AND INTO THE WEEDS. THE PILOT ADDED POWER AND RETRACTED THE FLAPS. THE AIRCRAFT BECAME AIRBORNE TO APPROXIMATELY 30 FEET THEN LOST ALTITUDE AND COLLIDED WITH THE TERRAIN.
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: 24 hours in all; 24 in this make and model; 24 in the last 90 days; 19 in the last 30 days; 2 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,482 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 26, 1987; 78 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-32-E2D (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Diamond K. Aviation
The flight
- Departed from: 027 Oakdale CA at 9:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 28, 3,020 ft by 66 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 190° at 18 knots
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.