Cessna 172P accident near Kernville, California, July 28, 1987
On July 28, 1987 at about 11:45 pm local time, a Cessna 172P, registered N52331, was substantially damaged in an accident near Kernville, California (Kernvalley airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person 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
- July 28, 1987 · about 11:45 pm local time
- Place
- Kernville, California · Kernvalley · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172P · all 172Ps on the register
- Registration
- N52331 · registry record · serial 17274494
- 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 PLT WAS ATTEMPTING A LANDING WITH A 6-10 KNOT CROSSWIND. WHILE ON FINAL APPROACH WITH FULL FLAPS AND PWR OFF, THE PLT STATED THAT OVER THE THRESHOLD AT APRX 10 FT AGL IN THE FLARE CONFIGURATION, A GUST OF WIND RAISED THE RIGHT WING AND THE ACFT DRIFTED TO THE LEFT SIDE OF THE RWY. THE PLT ADDED FULL PWR AND RETRACTED THE FLAPS TO GO-AROUND, HOWEVER, THE ACFT'S LANDING GEAR CAUGHT ON A BARB WIRE FENCE AND THE ACFT NOSED OVER COLLIDING 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
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 35 hours in all; 31 in this make and model; 22 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 8 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,497 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, May 15, 1987; 109 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,150 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-D2J (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Channel Island Aviation
The flight
- Departed from: PRB Paso Robles CA at 10:45 pm
- Destination: L05 Kernville CA
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 17, 3,500 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 290° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 95°F (35°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:52 pm from BFL, 35 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.