Cessna 172P accident near Kernville, California, July 19, 1992
On July 19, 1992 at about 10:15 pm local time, a Cessna 172P, registered N5247K, was destroyed in an accident near Kernville, California (Kern Valley Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S SELECTION OF THE WRONG RUNWAY; POORLY PLANNED APPROACH; FAILURE TO ATTAIN THE PROPER TOUCH DOWN POINT; AND DELAY IN EXECUTING THE GO-AROUND. CONTRIBUTING TO THIS ACCIDENT WAS THE EXISTING TAILWIND AND CROSSWIND.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 19, 1992 · about 10:15 pm local time
- Place
- Kernville, California · Kern Valley Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172P · all 172Ps on the register
- Registration
- N5247K · no longer on the register · serial 17274030
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE AIRPORT PROVIDED THE PILOT WITH AN AIRPORT ADVISORY INDICATING THAT RUNWAY 35 WAS RECOMMENDED DUE TO THE SURFACE WINDS COMING FROM THE WEST/NORTHWEST AT 15 KNOTS. THE PILOT ELECTED TO LAND TO THE SOUTH ON RUNWAY 17. ON THE INITIAL LANDING ATTEMPT THE PILOT EXECUTED A GO-AROUND. THE PILOT FAILED TO ATTAIN THE PROPER TOUCH DOWN POINT AND INSTEAD OF EXECUTING A GO-AROUND THE PILOT LANDED LONG ON THE SECOND LANDING. REALIZING THAT THE REMAINING RUNWAY WAS INSUFFICIENT TO STOP THE AIRPLANE ON THE RUNWAY, THE PILOT ELECTED TO TAKEOFF. SHORTLY AFTER LIFT-OFF THE MAIN LANDING GEAR STRUCK THE 3-FOOT HIGH STONE EMBANKMENT LOCATED ABOUT 120 FEET BEYOND THE DEPARTURE END OF THE RUNWAY. THE AIRPORT FACILITY DIRECTORY IDENTIFIES THE 3-FOOT HIGH STONE EMBANKMENT.
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: 160 hours in all; 6 in this make and model; 25 in the last 90 days; 15 in the last 30 days; 25 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,990 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, May 6, 1992; 80 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,400 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-D2J (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Hirshon & Nagy Aviation
The flight
- Departed from: SNA Santa Ana CA at 7:30 pm
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 17, 3,500 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 300° at 15 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°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.