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 October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 10, 1992 · about 4:30 pm local time
- 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.
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.