Cessna 172 accident near Lakeport, California, May 22, 1990
On May 22, 1990 at about 10:07 pm local time, a Cessna 172, registered N61602, was substantially damaged in an accident near Lakeport, California (Almpson 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
THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE COMPENSATION FOR CROSSWIND CONDITIONS. THE CROSSWIND WAS A FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 22, 1990 · about 10:07 pm local time
- Place
- Lakeport, California · Almpson · 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
- N61602 · no longer on the register · serial 17264669
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT CALLED THE AIRPORT UNICOM FOR AN AIRPORT ADVISORY, BUT TO NO AVIAL. HE THEN CIRCLED THE AIRPORT & OBSERVED THE SURFACE WINDS WERE OUT OF THE NORTH BETWEEN 12 - 15 KNOTS. THE AIRPORT WAS SERVED BY ONLY ONE EAST/WEST RUNWAY & THE PILOT ELECTED TO LAND ON RUNWAY 28. HE RPRTD THAT DURING THE LANDING ROLLOUT, A STRONG GUST OF WIND PUSHED THE AIRPLANE TO THE RIGHT INTO THE SOFT, MUDDY SHOULDER, AND THEN IT COLLIDED WITH A DITCH. THE PILOT IMPROPERLY USED THE FLIGHT CONTROLS AND FAILED TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL.
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: 100 hours in all; 21 in this make and model; 19 in the last 90 days; 8 in the last 30 days; 55 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: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MOD Modesto CA at 8:00 pm
- Destination: 1O2 Lakeport CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 28, 3,450 ft by 40 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 015° at 13 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 2,500 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 61°F (16°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.
Other NTSB records under N61602 the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.