Cessna 172L accident near Safford, Arizona, May 31, 1992
On May 31, 1992 at about 1:00 am local time, a Cessna 172L, registered N4163L, was substantially damaged in an accident near Safford, Arizona (Double Circle Ranch 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 AIRPLANE COLLIDING WITH ANIMALS WHICH RAN ON TO THE RUNWAY DURING THE PILOT'S TAKEOFF ROLL. A FACTOR IN THIS ACCIDENT WAS THE PILOT NOT BEING ABLE TO TAKE REMEDIAL ACTION AND AVOID THE ANIMALS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 31, 1992 · about 1:00 am local time
- Place
- Safford, Arizona · Double Circle Ranch · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172L · all 172Ls on the register
- Registration
- N4163L · registry record · serial 17254252
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
IN HIS WRITTEN STATEMENT, THE PILOT SAID HE APPLIED FULL POWER FOR TAKEOFF. HE STATED THAT AFTER THE POWER WAS APPLIED AND HE WAS ABOUT A THIRD OF THE WAY DOWN THE PRIVATE AIRSTRIP, A HERD OF CATTLE STARTED RUNNING TOWARD THE RUNWAY. HE SAID HE IMMEDIATELY PULLED THE POWER BACK AND SWERVED TO MISS THE CATTLE. HE FURTHER STATED THAT THE CATTLE CONTINUED TO RUN TOWARD THE AIRPLANE. HE HIT THREE OF THE COWS. HE SAID HE STOPPED THE AIRPLANE AND TURNED ALL SYSTEMS OFF.
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: 240 hours in all; 206 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,132 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, May 1, 1992
- Maximum gross weight: 2,150 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-300-D (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Safford Aviation Service, INC.
The flight
- Departed from: NONE at 1:00 am
- Destination: SAD
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0, 3,000 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°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.