Cessna 172P accident near Imperial, California, August 6, 1988
On August 6, 1988 at about 9:25 pm local time, a Cessna 172P, registered N53571, was substantially damaged in an accident near Imperial, California (Imperial 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
- August 6, 1988 · about 9:25 pm local time
- Place
- Imperial, California · Imperial · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172P · all 172Ps on the register
- Registration
- N53571 · registry record · serial 17274781
- 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 FLT, WHILE LANDING, A GUST OF WIND RAISED ONE WING, PUTTING WEIGHT ON MAIN WHEEL AND ONE NOSE WHEEL. THE PILOT REGAINED CONTROL; HOWEVER, THE AIRPLANE VEERED OFF THE RUNWAY AND NOSED OVER IN THE SOFT DIRT.
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; 14 in this make and model; 8 in the last 90 days; 3 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: 1,730 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, August 5, 1988; 3 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,150 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-D2J (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Pacific Executive Aviation
The flight
- Departed from: TRM Thermal CA at 8:45 pm
- Destination: IPL Imperial CA
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 32, 5,304 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 240° at 12 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 106°F (41°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
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.