Cessna 172P accident near Covelo, California, August 15, 1987
On August 15, 1987 at about 10:18 pm local time, a Cessna 172P, registered N98782, was substantially damaged in an accident near Covelo, California (Round Valley airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured and 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
- August 15, 1987 · about 10:18 pm local time
- Place
- Covelo, California · Round Valley · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172P · all 172Ps on the register
- Registration
- N98782 · no longer on the register · serial 17276351
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT RPRTD THAT WHEN SHE WAS LANDING, THE ACFT BALLOONED, ENTERED A PORPOISE & DRIFTED TO THE LEFT OF THE RWY. SHE APPLIED POWER TO 'FLY OUT OF THE SITUATION,' BUT THE ACFT PITCHED UP. THE RIGHT SEAT OCCUPANT (PAX) PULLED THE CONTROL YOKE BACK & SIMULTANEOUSLY RETRACTED THE FLAPS AS THE PLT WAS ATTEMPTING TO GO-AROUND. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE ACFT STRUCK A METAL POLE & CAME TO REST WITH SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE. LATER, THE PLT LEARNED THAT THE ACFT ENCTRD A DUST DEVIL DURING THE LANDING. THE PAX IN THE RIGHT FRONT SEAT HAD A PVT PLT CERTIFICATE, BUT SAID SHE HAD NOT FLOWN AN ACFT IN 'MANY YEARS.'
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: 560 hours in all; 298 in this make and model; 59 in the last 90 days; 33 in the last 30 days; 407 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 19 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 3, 1987; 19 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,150 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-H2AD (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 028 Willits CA at 10:00 pm
- Destination: 009
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 10, 3,670 ft by 55 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 22 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:18 pm from 009
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
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.