Cessna 172P accident near Santa Barbara, California, September 8, 1990
On September 8, 1990 at about 1:04 am local time, a Cessna 172P, registered N51362, was substantially damaged in an accident near Santa Barbara, California. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A DISCONNECT OF THE THROTTLE CONTROL.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 8, 1990 · about 1:04 am local time
- Place
- Santa Barbara, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172P · all 172Ps on the register
- Registration
- N51362 · registry record · serial 17274302
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
ON SEPTEMBER 7, 1990, AT ABOUT 1804 PDT, A CESSNA 172, N51362, OPERATED BY THE ALAMEDA AERO CLUB, EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER ON APPROACH TO THE SANTA BARBARA MUNICIPAL AIRPORT, CALIFORNIA (SBA). THE PILOT REPORTED THAT AT 1700 FEET MSL AND 7 MILES FROM SBA, THE AIRCRAFT'S THROTTLE CONTROL BECAME DISCONNECTED AND THE ENGINE WOULD ONLY PRODUCE IDLE POWER. HE DECLARED AN EMERGENCY AND LANDED ON A GOLF COURSE ABOUT 1-1/2 MILES WEST OF SBA. DURING ROLLOUT, THE AIRCRAFT COLLIDED WITH A BERM, NOSED OVER, AND WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED. NEITHER THE PRIVATE PILOT NOR THE PASSENGER WAS INJURED DURING THE PERSONAL FLIGHT. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED AT THE TIME, AND A VFR FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED. THE FLIGHT ORIGINATED FROM SAN CARLOS, CA, ON SEPTEMBER 7, 1990 AT ABOUT 1600.
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
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 2,150 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Alameda Aero Club
The flight
- Departed from: SQL San Carlos CA at 11:00 pm
- Destination: SBA Santa Barbara CA
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 230° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 59°F (15°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:04 am from SBA
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.