Cessna 172I accident near Chino Hills, California, June 11, 1992
On June 11, 1992 at about 1:00 am local time, a Cessna 172I, registered N225EB, was destroyed in an accident near Chino Hills, California. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 3 people were killed. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S POOR WEATHER EVALUATION AND INFLIGHT DECISION TO CONTINUE FLIGHT INTO INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS IN MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 11, 1992 · about 1:00 am local time
- Place
- Chino Hills, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people were killed.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172I · all 172Is on the register
- Registration
- N225EB · registry record · serial 172 56855
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
A CESSNA 172I COLLIDED WITH MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN DURING INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS. A FIRE WAS REPORTED IN THE ACCIDENT AREA. FIREMAN WERE UNABLE TO PINPOINT THE LOCATION OF THE FIRE DUE TO LOW CEILINGS AND FOG OBSCURING THE MOUNTAIN TOPS. A HELICOPTER WAS DISPATCHED TO HELP LOCATE THE FIRE AND HAD TO TURN AROUND DUE TO THE WEATHER CONDITIONS. THE FIRE WAS EVENTUALLY EXTINGUISHED DURING NIGHT FALL. THE AIRPLANE ACCIDENT WAS NOT DISCOVERED AS THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE UNTIL DAYLIGHT THE FOLLOWING DAY. TWO WEATHER OBSERVATION FACILITIES LOCATED AT TWO LOCAL AIRPORTS WHICH BRACKETED WERE REPORTING A 2,000 FT OVERCAST CEILING. ONE WAS LOCATED FIVE MILES AWAY AT AN ELEVATION OF 650 FT MSL. ANOTHER WAS LOCATED 14 MILES AWAY AT AN ELEVATION 96 FT MSL. THE ELEVATION OF THE ACCIDENT SITE WAS ABOUT 1,485 FT.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,555 hours in all; 30 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 2, 1991
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2D (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: L66 Corona CA
- Destination: FUL Fullerton CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 240° at 16 knots
- Visibility: 3 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 2,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
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.