Cessna 172N accident near Cottonwood, Arizona, January 29, 1992
On January 29, 1992 at about 8:15 pm local time, a Cessna 172N, registered N6087D, was substantially damaged in an accident near Cottonwood, Arizona (Cottonwood Municipal airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE STUDENT PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN AIRSPEED AND PREMATURE RAISING OF THE FLAPS. CONTRIBUTING TO THIS ACCIDENT WAS THE IMPROPER RECOVERY FROM A BOUNCED LANDING, LACK OF TOTAL EXPERIENCE, AND THE INADVERTENT STALL.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 29, 1992 · about 8:15 pm local time
- Place
- Cottonwood, Arizona · Cottonwood Municipal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172N · all 172Ns on the register
- Registration
- N6087D · registry record · serial 17272598
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE STUDENT PILOT RECEIVED TOUCH AND GO TAKEOFFS AND LANDINGS DUAL INSTRUCTION BEFORE BEGINNING THE ACCIDENT FLIGHT. WHEN THE INSTRUCTOR WAS SATISFIED WITH HIS TAKEOFFS AND LANDINGS THE INSTRUCTOR ALLOWED THE STUDENT PILOT TO SOLO. THE STUDENT SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED TWO TOUCH AND GO LANDINGS AND TAKEOFFS. ON THE THIRD LANDING THE AIRPLANE BOUNCED AND TURNED SIDEWAYS. THE STUDENT APPLIED POWER AND AFTER LIFT-OFF HE IMMEDIATELY RETRACTED THE FLAPS AND FAILED TO MAINTAIN FLYING SPEED. THE AIRPLANE SETTLED AND THE LEFT WING CONTACTED THE RUNWAY CAUSING THE AIRPLANE TO CARTWHEEL OFF THE LEFT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY.
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: 23 hours in all; 23 in this make and model; 23 in the last 90 days; 1 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, January 2, 2000
- Maximum gross weight: 2,150 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-H2AD (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Cottonwood Air Service
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 32, 4,250 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 010° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 65 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 57°F (14°C), dew point 12°F (-11°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:51 pm from PRC, 23 miles away
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.
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.