Cessna 172P accident near Oceanside, California, March 24, 1989
On March 24, 1989 at about 4:30 pm local time, a Cessna 172P, registered N63229, was substantially damaged in an accident near Oceanside, California (Oceanside airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE FAILURE OF THE STUDENT PILOT TO COMPENSATE ADEQUATELY FOR WIND CONDITIONS AND TO RELINQUISH THE FLIGHT CONTROLS TO THE INSTRUCTOR. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS INADEQUATE SUPERVISION BY THE INSTRUCTOR.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 24, 1989 · about 4:30 pm local time
- Place
- Oceanside, California · Oceanside · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172P · all 172Ps on the register
- Registration
- N63229 · no longer on the register · serial 17275409
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING AN INSTRUCTIONAL FLIGHT, JUST AFTER LIFTOFF, THE STUDENT PILOT ALLOWED THE AIRPLANE TO DRIFT OFF CENTERLINE. THE INSTRUCTOR TRIED TO TAKE CONTROL FROM THE STUDENT WHO WOULD NOT RELINGUISH CONTROL. WHEN THE STUDENT DID RELINGUISH CONTROL, THE AIRPLANE HAD DRIFTED OFF THE RUNWAY AND IT COLLIDED WITH A HANGAR.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,200 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,540 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, February 10, 1989
- Maximum gross weight: 2,150 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-D2J (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Ocean Air
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 24, 3,061 ft by 75 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.