Cessna 172M accident near White Water, California, March 19, 1993
On March 19, 1993 at about 1:41 pm local time, a Cessna 172M, registered N12587, was destroyed in an accident near White Water, California. It was a flight of an unrecorded kind under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO SEE AND AVOID THE TOWER DUE TO DRUG IMPAIRMENT. FACTORS WHICH CONTRIBUTED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE LOW ALTITUDE AND THE DAWN LIGHT CONDITION.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 19, 1993 · about 1:41 pm local time
- Place
- White Water, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172M · all 172Ms on the register
- Registration
- N12587 · no longer on the register · serial 17262096
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH A 199-FT METEOROLOGICAL TOWER AND THE RIGHT WING SEPARATED. THE AIRPLANE HAD JUST BEEN STOLEN FROM A FLIGHT SCHOOL. THE PILOT'S TOXICOLOGY RESULTS WERE POSITIVE FOR AMPHETAMINE (0.303 UG/ML BLOOD, 2.673 UG/ML URINE) AND METHAMPHETAMINE (1.371 UG/ML BLOOD, 21.991 UG/ML URINE). IN ADDITION, PHENYLPROPANOLAMINE, NICOTINE METABOLITE, AND NICOTINE WERE ALL DETECTED IN THE URINE.
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: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 495 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,694 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 7, 1992; 90 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2D (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Advanced Flight Training, INC.
The flight
- Departed from: L52 Banning CA at 1:25 pm
- Destination: Unknown
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: dawn
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| 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.
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.