Cessna 172N accident near Sedona, Arizona, July 31, 1991
On July 31, 1991 at about 8:20 pm local time, a Cessna 172N, registered N2946E, was substantially damaged in an accident near Sedona, Arizona (Sedona airport). It was an instructional 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 MISJUDGED LANDING FLARE AND HIS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN A PROPER GO-AROUND COURSE OVER THE RUNWAY.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 31, 1991 · about 8:20 pm local time
- Place
- Sedona, Arizona · Sedona · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172N · all 172Ns on the register
- Registration
- N2946E · registry record · serial 17271380
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING THE STUDENT PILOT'S SUPERVISED SOLO FLIGHT, HE ATTEMPTED TO LAND AT HIS ORIGINAL DEPARTURE AIRPORT. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT DURING HIS LANDING FLARE HE ENCOUNTERED A GUST OF WIND, BALLOONED, AND ADDED ENGINE POWER. THEREAFTER, THE AIRPLANE DRIFTED OFF THE 75 FOOT WIDE BY 5131 FOOT LONG RUNWAY AND COLLIDED WITH A TREE AND TERRAIN.
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: 92 hours in all; 51 in this make and model; 40 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no 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-D2J (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Aerovision, INC.
The flight
- Departed from: P14 Holbrook AZ at 7:20 pm
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 3, 5,131 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 10 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 8,000 ft
- Temperature: 95°F (35°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 N2946E 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.