Cessna 172N accident near Lake Arrowhead, California, August 14, 1988
On August 14, 1988 at about 2:00 am local time, a Cessna 172N, registered N4788F, was substantially damaged in an accident near Lake Arrowhead, California (Private airport). It was an other work-use flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured and 3 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 14, 1988 · about 2:00 am local time
- Place
- Lake Arrowhead, California · Private · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 3 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172N · all 172Ns on the register
- Registration
- N4788F · no longer on the register · serial 17273080
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Other work-use flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING A LOCAL PARACHUTE JUMP FLIGHT, THE AIRPLANE WAS UNABLE TO GAIN ENOUGH ALTITUDE TO CLEAR RISING TERRAIN. THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH A TREE AND EVENTUALLY THE TERRAIN. THERE WERE NO REPORTED MECHANICAL FAILURES OR MALFUNCTIONS. THE ACFT HANDBOOK LISTS 2307 LBS AS MAX GTO WT. THE ACC ACFT WEIGHED 2280 LBS. THE CG WAS IN THE REAR THIRD OF THE ENVELOPE AT APRX 103.35. THE DA WAS APRX 6200 FT.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 567 hours in all; 107 in this make and model; 84 in the last 90 days; 22 in the last 30 days; 402 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,696 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 11, 1988; 42 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,307 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-H2AD (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 9, 3,200 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 68°F (20°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 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.