Cessna 172K accident near Palmdale, California, July 15, 1988
On July 15, 1988 at about 9:43 pm local time, a Cessna 172K, registered N46373, was substantially damaged in an accident near Palmdale, California (Palmdale 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 15, 1988 · about 9:43 pm local time
- Place
- Palmdale, California · Palmdale · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172K · all 172Ks on the register
- Registration
- N46373 · no longer on the register · serial 17257223
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE CRUISING AT 9500 FEET, THE PILOT NOTED THAT THE OIL PRESSURE WAS LOW. SHORTLY AFTER, THE ENGINE QUIT. THE PILOT TURNED TOWARD AN AIRPORT, HOWEVER, THE AIRPLANE WAS LANDED SHORT OF THE RUNWAY AND NOSED OVER IN SOFT SAND DURING THE LANDING ROLL. INSPECTION OF THE AIRPLANE REVEALED THAT A CONSIDERABLE AMOUNT OF OIL HAD TRAVELED AFT ON THE LOWER ENGINE COWLING, EMANATING FROM THE NOSE GEAR AREA. THE ENGINE HAD UNDERGONE AN ANNUAL INSPECTION ON THE DAY OF THE ACCIDENT AND HAD FLOWN LESS THAN 1 HR. EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE REVEALED THAT THE OIL HEAT SENSOR PROBE WAS FINGER TIGHT AND THE OIL HAD LEAKED FROM THAT AREA.
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: 288 hours in all; 288 in this make and model; 63 in the last 90 days; 9 in the last 30 days; 214 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,978 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 15, 1988
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: BUR Burbank CA at 9:15 pm
- Destination: P06 Bullhead City AZ
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 22, 12,000 ft by 15 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 91°F (33°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.