Cessna 172 accident near Monterey, California, December 14, 1989
On December 14, 1989 at about 10:32 pm local time, a Cessna 172, registered N739EQ, was substantially damaged in an accident near Monterey, California (Monterey 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
PILOT MISJUDGED CLEARANCE BETWEEN THE AIRCRAFT'S WING TIP & THE FUEL TRUCK. A FACTOR RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WAS: THE PROXIMITY OF THE VEHICLE (FUEL TRUCK).
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 14, 1989 · about 10:32 pm local time
- Place
- Monterey, California · Monterey · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172 · all 172s on the register
- Registration
- N739EQ · no longer on the register
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT FAILED TO AVOID A PARKED FUEL TRUCK, WHILE MANEUVERING HIS AIRCRAFT IN THE REFUELING AREA. THERE WAS NO RESTRICTION TO VISIBILITY, AND NO PREIMPACT MALFUNCTION OF THE AIRCRAFT WAS REPORTED.
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: 97 hours in all; 97 in this make and model; 13 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-H2AD (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SQL San Carlos CA at 9:45 pm
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 28L, 6,597 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 090° at 16 knots
- Visibility: 55 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°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.