Cessna 172 accident near California City, California, May 15, 1990
On May 15, 1990 at about 9:02 pm local time, a Cessna 172, registered N7406A, was substantially damaged in an accident near California City, California (California City airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S IMPROPER LANDING FLARE. A FACTOR RELATED TO ACCIDENT WAS THE GUSTY WIND CONDITION.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 15, 1990 · about 9:02 pm local time
- Place
- California City, California · California City · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172 · all 172s on the register
- Registration
- N7406A · no longer on the register · serial 29506
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE STUDENT PILOT, WHO HAD LOGGED 130 HOURS OF FLIGHT TIME, FLEW HIS AIRPLANE FOR 1.5 HOURS AND PRACTICED GROUND REFERENCE MANEUVERS. HE THEN ATTEMPTED TO LAND. DURING THE LANDING FLARE A GUST WAS ENCOUNTERED, AND THE PILOT DECIDED TO GO-AROUND. THE PILOT APPLIED FULL ENGINE POWER. THE NOSE WHEEL CONTACTED THE GROUND AND THE AIRCRAFT PORPOISED. THEREAFTER, THE PILOT LOST CONTROL OF HIS AIRCRAFT AND IT TOUCHED DOWN SO HARD THAT IT 'BROKE IN HALF.'
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
- Flight time: 130 hours in all; 125 in this make and model; 39 in the last 90 days; 35 in the last 30 days; 85 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,200 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-300-B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: WJF Lancaster CA at 7:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 24, 6,035 ft by 55 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: not reported
- Wind: from 230° at 15 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; not recorded
- 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.