Boeing PT-17 accident near Chino, California, May 3, 1992
On May 3, 1992 at about 7:25 pm local time, a Boeing PT-17, registered N1731B, was substantially damaged in an accident near Chino, California (Chino 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 FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL DURING THE LANDING ROLL OUT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 12, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 3, 1992 · about 7:25 pm local time · cases in 1992
- Place
- Chino, California · Chino · cases near this airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Boeing PT-17 · all PT-17s on the register
- Registration
- N1731B · registry record · serial 75-5716
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT SAID HE MADE A THREE POINT LANDING ON THE CENTER LINE OF THE ACTIVE RUNWAY. AS THE AIRPLANE SLOWED THE LEFT WING WENT DOWN. THE PILOT SAID HE CORRECTED WITH RIGHT AILERON THEN THE AIRPLANE TURNED TO THE RIGHT AND BOUNCED ON THE LEFT WHEEL. HE SAID HE APPLIED LEFT RUDDER BUT BY THEN THE AIRCRAFT WAS OFF THE RUNWAY AND INTO THE DIRT. THE LEFT LANDING GEAR COLLAPSED DURING THE GROUND LOOP DAMAGING THE LEFT WING AND PROPELLER.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 723 hours in all; 20 in this make and model; 628 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rear
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 30, 1991
- Maximum gross weight: 2,950 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental W670-6A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 26, 3,858 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 260° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 4 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 12,000 ft; clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:55 pm from CNO, 1 miles away
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.
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N1731B on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Boeing PT-17 36 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Boeing 6,672 aircraft on the register
- Engine: Continental W670-6A 37 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Chino Airport · nearest airport
- Accidents and incidents in California 9,069 since 1982 · 1,088 in the last ten years
- California 27,610 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/LAX92LA195.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.