Cessna 172N and Cessna 172P mid-air collision near Saticoy, California, April 1, 1988
On April 1, 1988 at about 6:22 pm local time, 2 aircraft, Cessna 172N (N733KS) and Cessna 172P (N98955), were involved in a mid-air collision near Saticoy, California. 1 person was killed, 1 person was seriously injured and 4 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
- April 1, 1988 · about 6:22 pm local time
- Place
- Saticoy, California · map
- Type
- Accident · mid-air collision
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed, 1 person was seriously injured and 4 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- Cessna 172N · all 172Ns on the register
- Registration
- N733KS · registry record · serial 17268357
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
- Aircraft 2
- Cessna 172P · all 172Ps on the register
- Registration
- N98955 · no longer on the register · serial 17276385
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative for the Cessna 172N final · quoted from the NTSB record
A CERTIFICATED PRIVATE PILOT AND HIS INSTRUCTOR, CONDUCTING TRAINING IN A 172P, WERE TURNING LEFT TO A SOUTHEASTERLY HEADING AT 3,400 FEET MSL, NEAR AN UNCONTROLLED AIRPORT. A CESSNA 172N ON A PLEASURE FLIGHT IN THE VICINITY WAS CLIMBING ON A SOUTHWESTERLY HEADING TO A CRUISE ALTITUDE OF 4,500 FEET MSL. A THIRD 172 WAS CLIMBING THROUGH 3,400 FEET MSL TO A 7,500 FEET MSL ALTITUDE ON A NORTHWEST HEADING. AS THE THREE AIRCRAFT MERGED AT 3,400 FEET MSL THE INSTRUMENT TRAINING CESSNA 172P AND THE PLEASURE FLIGHT 172N COLLIDED. THE CESSNA 172P'S EMPENNAGE WAS SEVERED AND THE AIRCRAFT PLUMMETED TO THE GROUND. THE IMPACT FATALLY INJURED THE INSTRUCTOR PILOT AND SERIOUSLY INJURED THE PRIVATE PILOT. THE CESSNA 172N WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED BUT LANDED WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT. THE THIRD AIRCRAFT WAS NOT INVOLVED IN THE COLLISION AND ITS PILOT DID NOT OBSERVE THE OTHER AIRCRAFT.
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 NTSB's narrative for the Cessna 172P final · quoted from the NTSB record
A CERTIFICATED PRIVATE PILOT AND HIS INSTRUCTOR, CONDUCTING TRAINING IN A 172P, WERE TURNING LEFT TO A SOUTHEASTERLY HEADING AT 3,400 FEET MSL, NEAR AN UNCONTROLLED AIRPORT. A CESSNA 172N ON A PLEASURE FLIGHT IN THE VICINITY WAS CLIMBING ON A SOUTHWESTERLY HEADING TO A CRUISE ALTITUDE OF 4,500 FEET MSL. A THIRD 172 WAS CLIMBING THROUGH 3,400 FEET MSL TO A 7,500 FEET MSL ALTITUDE ON A NORTHWEST HEADING. AS THE THREE AIRCRAFT MERGED AT 3,400 FEET MSL THE INSTRUMENT TRAINING CESSNA 172P AND THE PLEASURE FLIGHT CESSNA 172N COLLIDED. THE CESSNA 172P'S EMPENNAGE WAS SEVERED AND THE AIRCRAFT PLUMMETED TO THE GROUND. THE IMPACT FATALLY INJURED THE INSTRUCTOR PILOT AND SERIOUSLY INJURED THE PRIVATE PILOT. THE CESSNA 172N WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED BUT LANDED WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT. THE THIRD AIRCRAFT WAS NOT INVOLVED IN THE COLLISION AND ITS PILOT DID NOT OBSERVE THE OTHER AIRCRAFT.
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 for the Cessna 172N from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 343 hours in all; 31 in this make and model; 5 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days; 305 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,530 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, March 2, 1988; 69 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,150 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-H2AD (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Cp Aviation
The flight
- Departed from: SZP Santa Paula CA at 6:15 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 200° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:20 pm from OXR, 6 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
The factual record for the Cessna 172P from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 567 hours in all; 248 in this make and model; 106 in the last 90 days; 27 in the last 30 days; 501 as pilot in command; 153 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,228 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, March 17, 1988; 36 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,150 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-D2J (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: CMA Camarillo CA at 5:30 pm
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | 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.