Cessna 172N accident near Lake Elsinore, California, August 4, 1991
On August 4, 1991, a Cessna 172N, registered N2457L, was substantially damaged in an accident near Lake Elsinore, California (Skylark 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 POOR JUDGEMENT FOR UNWARRANTED LOW FLYING AND POOR VISUAL LOOKOUT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 4, 1991
- Place
- Lake Elsinore, California · Skylark
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172N · all 172Ns on the register
- Registration
- N2457L · no longer on the register · serial 17255657
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE FLYING SOUTH OVER THE COLORADO RIVER NEAR NEEDLES, CA AT ABOUT 100 FT AGL WHILE ENROUTE TO LAKE HAVASU CITY, AZ, THE PILOT FAILED TO SEE THE EAST/WEST TRAVERSING WIRES AND THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH THEM. THE NOSE AND LEFT MAIN LANDING GEARS SEPARATED, BUT THE PILOT WAS STILL ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE ACFT. THE PILOT ELECTED TO DIVERT TO SKYLARK ARPT, LAKE ELSINORE, CA, HIS HOME BASE. UPON LANDING ON THE DIRT RUNWAY THE AIRPLANE SKIDDED TO THE LEFT CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE LEFT WING.
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: 243 hours in all; 201 in this make and model; 31 in the last 90 days; 7 in the last 30 days; 171 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,621 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 1, 1991; 5 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-300-D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: P06 Bullhead City AZ at 9:10 pm
- Destination: LHU Lake Havasu Cit AZ
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 84°F (29°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.