Cessna 170A accident near Holtville, California, September 2, 1992
On September 2, 1992 at about 6:00 pm local time, a Cessna 170A, registered N9923A, was substantially damaged in an accident near Holtville, California (D. S. Dusters airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S ENCOUNTER WITH THE UNFORECASTED DUST DEVIL.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 2, 1992 · about 6:00 pm local time
- Place
- Holtville, California · D. S. Dusters · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 170A · all 170As on the register
- Registration
- N9923A · no longer on the register · serial 19283
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT WAS DEPARTING ON A LOCAL PERSONAL FLIGHT. DURING THE TAKEOFF ROLL HE OBSERVED A DUST DEVIL NORTH OF THE AIRPORT NEXT TO THE FREEWAY. AT LIFT OFF THE AIRCRAFT ENCOUNTERED A STRONG GUST OF WIND THAT TURNED IT TO THE LEFT TOWARD THE FREEWAY FENCE. THE AIRCRAFT'S LEFT WING STRUCK THE FENCE. TWO GROUND WITNESSES REPORTED SEEING THE DUST DEVIL APPROACH THE AIRPORT.
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: commercial pilot
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,314 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 10, 1992; 1 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-300 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 9, 2,200 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 7 knots, gusting 10
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 102°F (39°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.