Cessna C172M accident near Coalinga, California, May 11, 1991
On May 11, 1991 at about 7:00 pm local time, a Cessna C172M, registered N73001, was substantially damaged in an accident near Coalinga, California (Coalinga Muni airport). 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
THE PILOT'S ENCOUNTER WITH A DUST DEVIL WHICH RESULTED IN HIS LOSS OF CONTROL DURING LANDING ROLLOUT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 11, 1991 · about 7:00 pm local time
- Place
- Coalinga, California · Coalinga Muni · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna C172M
- Registration
- N73001 · registry record · serial 17267232
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
APPROACHING THE DESTINATION AIRPORT THE PILOT NOTED THAT THE LOCAL WIND WAS CALM. THE PILOT MADE A NORMAL LANDING AND DURING ROLLOUT HE LOST CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE. THE AIRPLANE VEERED OFF THE RUNWAY AND IT NOSED OVER IN A SOFT DIRT FIELD. A FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR, WHO WITNESSED THE ACCIDENT, REPORTED OBSERVING A DUST DEVIL IN THE AREA.
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: 160 hours in all; 80 in this make and model; 35 in the last 90 days; 18 in the last 30 days; 80 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, January 2, 2000
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2D (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Patterson Aviation
The flight
- Departed from: SAC Sacramento CA at 5:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 3, 4,600 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 10,000 ft
- Temperature: 68°F (20°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.