Cessna 172P accident near Grass Valley, California, July 11, 1987
On July 11, 1987 at about 2:30 am local time, a Cessna 172P, registered N5259K, was substantially damaged in an accident near Grass Valley, California (Nevada CO. airport). 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
- July 11, 1987 · about 2:30 am local time
- Place
- Grass Valley, California · Nevada CO. · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172P · all 172Ps on the register
- Registration
- N5259K · no longer on the register · serial 17274034
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING A PLEASURE FLIGHT, WHILE ATTEMPTING TO LAND AT THE AIRPORT, THE PILOT MADE A GO AROUND BECAUSE HE WAS TOO HIGH. ON THE SECOND APPROACH, THE PILOT NOTED THAT HE MAY HAVE BEEN A LITTLE HIGH AND FAST. DURING THE LANDING THE AIRCRAFT BOUNCED THREE TIMES BEFORE THE PILOT ADDED POWER TO GO AROUND. THE PILOT TOOK OFF AND DECIDED TO LAND AT ANOTHER AIRPORT. AFTER LANDING WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT AT THE OTHER AIRPORT, THE PILOT REALIZED THE DAMAGE TO THE AIRCRAFT. THERE WAS NO MECHANICAL FAILURES OR MALFUNCTIONS REPORTED AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT.
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: 72 hours in all; 6 in this make and model; 10 in the last 90 days; 27 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,837 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, May 20, 1987
- Maximum gross weight: 2,150 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-D2J (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 017 Grass Valley CA
- Destination: APC Napa CA
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 25, 3,920 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:55 am from BAB, 12 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.
Other NTSB records under N5259K the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.