Cessna 172K accident near Agua Caliente, California, July 5, 1992
On July 5, 1992 at about 4:15 pm local time, a Cessna 172K, registered N78669, was substantially damaged in an accident near Agua Caliente, California (Agua Caliente airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN AN ADEQUATE APPROACH AIRSPEED AND AN INADVERTENT STALL/MUSH CONDITION WHICH RESULTED IN A COLLISION WITH THE GROUND SHORT OF THE RUNWAY. A FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT WAS THE PILOTS LACK OF TOTAL EXPERIENCE IN TYPE OF AIRCRAFT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 5, 1992 · about 4:15 pm local time
- Place
- Agua Caliente, California · Agua Caliente · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172K · all 172Ks on the register
- Registration
- N78669 · registry record · serial 17257711
- 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 THAT HE LANDED AT THE AIRPORT AND TOOK OFF AGAIN TO PERFORM ONE MORE LANDING. ON SHORT FINAL APPROACH THE PILOT SAID HE DETERMINED THAT THE AIRCRAFT 'WAS SINKING TOO FAST AND WOULD LAND SHORT OF THE RUNWAY.' HE SAID THAT HE 'ADDED FULL POWER AND TRIED TO BRING THE NOSE UP,' BUT THE AIRCRAFT CONTINUED TO SETTLE AND STRUCK THE GROUND ABOUT 60 FEET SHORT OF THE RUNWAY. IN A VERBAL STATEMENT TO FAA INSPECTORS, THE PILOT SAID HE LET THE AIRCRAFT STALL ON SHORT FINAL. IN HIS WRITTEN STATEMENT, HE SAID THAT THE ACCIDENT COULD HAVE BEEN PREVENTED BY MAINTAINING A 'HIGHER APPROACH SPEED.'
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: 87 hours in all; 1 in this make and model; 5 in the last 90 days; 1 in the last 30 days; 40 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,575 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, April 15, 1992; 85 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A1A (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Cruise Air Aviation
The flight
- Departed from: L49 Ramona CA at 3:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 29, 2,500 ft by 60 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 90°F (32°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
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.