Cessna 172 accident near Inyokern, California, September 3, 1992
On September 3, 1992 at about 8:45 pm local time, a Cessna 172, registered N4187F, was substantially damaged in an accident near Inyokern, California (Inyokern airport). It was an instructional 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 STUDENT PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL. CONTRIBUTING TO THIS ACCIDENT WAS THE STUDENT'S PILOT TOTAL LACK OF EXPERIENCE AND THE CROSSWIND.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 3, 1992 · about 8:45 pm local time
- Place
- Inyokern, California · Inyokern · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172 · all 172s on the register
- Registration
- N4187F · no longer on the register · serial 46087
- 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 PRACTICE FLIGHT, THE SOLO STUDENT PILOT ENCOUNTERED SOME TURBULENCE AND ELECTED TO LAND AT A NEARBY AIRPORT. THE STUDENT PILOT OVERFLEW THE AIRPORT AND DECIDED THAT THE SURFACE WINDS FAVORED RUNWAY 20. DURING THE LANDING ROLL THE STUDENT PILOT FAILED TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL, EXITED THE RUNWAY, AND COLLIDED WITH THE TERRAIN. A RIGHT QUARTERING HEADWIND BETWEEN TWENTY-FIVE AND THIRTY KNOTS EXISTED AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT.
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: student
- Flight time: 41 hours in all; 41 in this make and model; 35 in the last 90 days; 13 in the last 30 days; 15 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 2, 2000
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-300 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 2O7 Independence CA at 8:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 2, 6,275 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 240° at 25 knots, gusting 30
- Visibility: 75 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°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.