Cessna 172 accident near Arroyo Grande, California, September 5, 1991
On September 5, 1991 at about 5:49 am local time, a Cessna 172, registered N739YG, was destroyed in an accident near Arroyo Grande, California. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 3 people were killed and 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN A PROPER ALTITUDE, AND CONTINUED FLIGHT INTO INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 5, 1991 · about 5:49 am local time
- Place
- Arroyo Grande, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people were killed and 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172 · all 172s on the register
- Registration
- N739YG · no longer on the register · serial 17270908
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE 100 HOUR PRIVATE PILOT RECEIVED A LIMITED PREFLIGHT WEATHER BRIEFING FOR A PROPOSED NIGHT FLIGHT IN A RENTAL AIRCRAFT. HE WAS ADVISED THAT AIRMET SIERRA WAS IN EFFECT, WHICH CALLED FOR GENERAL IFR CONDITIONS OVER HIS ROUTE OF FLIGHT. ADDITIONALLY, THERE WAS A SIGMET FOR THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY ALONG THE ROUTE. HE ARRIVED AT HIS DESTINATION LATE IN THE EVENING. WITNESSES STATED THE WEATHER WAS VERY FOGGY WITH ABOUT 1/2 MILE VISIBILITY. THE AIRCRAFT COLLIDED WITH TREES AND TERRAIN NEAR THE DESTINATION AIRPORT.
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
- 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: 2,220 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-H2AD (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
- Operator: Novo Helicopters, INC.
The flight
- Departed from: LGB Long Beach CA at 3:59 am
- Destination: L52 Oceano CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 280° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 1 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Observation at 5:45 am from SMR, 12 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
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.