Cessna 172E accident near Placerville, California, November 11, 1987
On November 11, 1987, a Cessna 172E, registered N5577T, was substantially damaged in an accident near Placerville, California (Placerville airport). It was an instructional 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
- November 11, 1987
- Place
- Placerville, California · Placerville · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172E · all 172Es on the register
- Registration
- N5577T · no longer on the register · serial 17251477
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING A TELEPHONE INTERVIEW THE STUDENT PILOT STATED THAT HE WAS PRACTICING TAKEOFFS AND LANDINGS. ON THE LANDING PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT, THE AIRCRAFT BOUNCED AND THE STUDENT PILOT ATTEMPTED A GO AROUND. DURING THE GO AROUND ATTEMPT THE AIRCRAFT DRIFTED TO THE LEFT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY AND COLLIDED WITH A POLE. THERE WERE NO MECHANICAL PROBLEMS REPORTED PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT. WINDS WERE REPORTED TO BE FROM 320 DEGREES AT 3 KNOTS.
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
Crew member
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 33 hours in all; 33 in this make and model; 30 in the last 90 days; 9 in the last 30 days; 6 as pilot in command
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,125 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 26, 1987; 54 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-300D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PVF
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 23, 4,200 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 320° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 25,000 ft; scat at 12,000 ft
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:55 am from MHR, 28 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.