Cessna 172RG accident near Casa Grande, Arizona, September 16, 1992
On September 16, 1992 at about 4:00 am local time, a Cessna 172RG, registered N519PU, was substantially damaged in an accident near Casa Grande, Arizona (Casa Grande Muni airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 16, 1992 · about 4:00 am local time
- Place
- Casa Grande, Arizona · Casa Grande Muni
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172RG · all 172RGs on the register
- Registration
- N519PU · no longer on the register · serial 172RG1136
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PURPOSE OF THE INSTRUCTIONAL FLIGHT WAS TO PRACTICE NIGHT TAKEOFFS AND LANDINGS WITH TWO BELGIAN STUDENTS. ON THE TAKEOFF PORTION OF THE SIXTH TOUCH AND GO, THE ENGINE LOST POWER WITH WHAT THE INSTRUCTOR DESCRIBED AS A SMOOTH REDUCTION OVER A ONE TO TWO SECOND TIME PERIOD. THE CFI TOOK CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT AND ABORTED THE TAKEOFF CLIMB. THE AIRCRAFT LANDED ON THE DEPARTURE END OF THE RUNWAY AND COLLIDED WITH A FENCE AND A LOCALIZER ANTENNA. THE CFI STATED THAT CARBURETOR HEAT WAS USED IN ACCORDANCE WITH COMPANY POLICY AT EACH POWER REDUCTION FOR LANDING. THE AIRCRAFT WAS EXAMINED BY AN FAA AIRWORTHINESS INSPECTOR. HE REPORTED THAT FUEL WAS FOUND IN THE TANKS AND LINES TO THE ENGINE. THE ENGINE WAS STARTED AND RUN IN THE AIRFRAME AT A LOW POWER SETTING WITH NO DISCREPANCIES NOTED. ADDITIONAL TESTS OF THE IGNITION, INTAKE, EXHAUST AND FUEL SYSTEMS REVEALED NO ABNORMALITIES.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,428 hours in all; 525 in this make and model; 243 in the last 90 days; 88 in the last 30 days; 1,340 as pilot in command; 1,138 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, January 2, 2000; 90 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,650 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-F1A6 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SDL Scottsdale AZ at 3:00 am
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 5, 5,200 ft by 100 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 360° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 35 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 95°F (35°C), dew point 63°F (17°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:50 am from PHX, 36 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 | |||
| 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.
Other NTSB records under N519PU the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.