Cessna 172N accident near Stanfield, Arizona, September 10, 1992
On September 10, 1992 at about 4:30 pm local time, a Cessna 172N, registered N734UT, was substantially damaged in an accident near Stanfield, Arizona (Dirt Airstrip airport). It was an instructional 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 CFI'S POOR IN-FLIGHT DECISION TO DEMONSTRATE THE SIMULATED ENGINE OUT EMERGENCY LANDING AT TOO LOW AN ALTITUDE AND MISJUDGING THE ALTITUDE DURING THE CIRCLING MANEUVER.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 10, 1992 · about 4:30 pm local time · cases in 1992
- Place
- Stanfield, Arizona · Dirt Airstrip
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172N · all 172Ns on the register
- Registration
- N734UT · registry record · serial 17269131
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE ON A LOCAL TRAINING FLIGHT, THE CFI ELECTED TO DEMONSTRATE A SIMULATED ENGINE OUT, EMERGENCY LANDING TO A PRIVATELY OWNED DIRT AIRSTRIP. THE AIRCRAFT WAS TOO HIGH TO EXECUTE A STRAIGHT IN APPROACH AND THE CFI ENTERED INTO A LEFT CIRCLING TURN. THE CFI MISJUDGED THE AIRCRAFT'S ALTITUDE AND ITS LEFT WING STRUCK THE GROUND DURING THE TURN ONTO THE FINAL APPROACH COURSE.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,496 hours in all; 1,068 in this make and model; 44 in the last 90 days; 9 in the last 30 days; 1,474 as pilot in command; 205 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,915 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, August 26, 1992; 24 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-H2AD (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: P10 Chandler AZ at 3:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 36, 1,000 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 35 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 90°F (32°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
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
- N734UT on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Cessna 172 Skyhawk 20,691 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Cessna 72,677 aircraft on the register
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-H2AD 83 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Polacca Airport · departed from
- Accidents and incidents in Arizona 2,985 since 1982 · 466 in the last ten years
- Arizona 8,435 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/LAX92LA380.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.