Cessna 172RG accident near San Diego, California, February 19, 1987
On February 19, 1987 at about 2:14 am local time, a Cessna 172RG, registered N4590V, was substantially damaged in an accident near San Diego, California. It was a personal 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
- February 19, 1987 · about 2:14 am local time
- Place
- San Diego, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172RG · all 172RGs on the register
- Registration
- N4590V · no longer on the register · serial 172RG0329
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING A LOCAL PLEASURE FLIGHT, THE PILOT RETURNED TO THE AIRPORT TO PRACTICE TOUCH-AND-GO LANDINGS. ON TAKE-OFF, ASCENDING THROUGH 200 FEET, THE ENGINE BEGAN TO SURGE THEN QUIT. THE PILOT MADE A FORCED LANDING ON AN OCCUPIED ROAD WHERE THE AIRCRAFT COLLIDED WITH SEVERAL AUTOMOBILES. THE ENGINE WAS REMOVED AND PLACED ON AN ENGINE RUN STAND AND WAS OPERATED AT DIFFERENT POWER SETTING FOR APPROXIMATELY FIVE MINUTES. FURTHER EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE REVEALED NO MECHANICAL FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 399 hours in all; 54 in this make and model; 8 in the last 90 days; 349 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,260 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 14, 1986; 60 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,650 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-F1A6 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Fun Birds Flying Club
The flight
- Departed from: MYF San Diego CA at 1:18 am
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 28, 3,400 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Wind: from 070° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 2,500 ft
- Temperature: 57°F (14°C), dew point 39°F (4°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:25 am from MYF, 1 miles away
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.