Cessna 172G accident near Williams, Arizona, November 15, 1992
On November 15, 1992 at about 2:50 pm local time, a Cessna 172G, registered N6060R, was substantially damaged in an accident near Williams, Arizona (Williams Muni airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PARTIAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DUE TO A STUCK EXHAUST VALVE ON THE NUMBER TWO CYLINDER AND THE PILOT'S INABILITY TO CLIMB THE AIRCRAFT ABOVE THE TREES SURROUNDING THE AIRPORT. A FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT WAS THE EFFECTS OF THE HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE ON THE AIRCRAFT CLIMB PERFORMANCE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 15, 1992 · about 2:50 pm local time
- Place
- Williams, Arizona · Williams Muni · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172G · all 172Gs on the register
- Registration
- N6060R · registry record · serial 17253727
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT, THE PILOT RATED PASSENGERS AND A MECHANIC GROUND WITNESS REPORTED THAT THE AIRCRAFT USED THE ENTIRE LENGTH OF THE RUNWAY TO BECOME AIRBORNE. THE AIRCRAFT WOULD NOT CLIMB, AND, WHILE FLYING IN GROUND EFFECT, COLLIDED WITH A TREE ABOUT ONE MILE OFF THE END OF THE RUNWAY. THE DENSITY ALTITUDE WAS COMPUTED TO BE JUST OVER 7,000 FEET. THE MECHANIC WITNESS SAID THE ENGINE SOUNDED LIKE THE CARBURETOR HEAT WAS ON DURING THE TAKEOFF GROUND ROLL. DETAILED EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE REVEALED THAT THE EXHAUST VALVE ON THE NUMBER TWO CYLINDER WAS STUCK IN THE OPEN POSITION. A ENGINE OVERHAUL FACILITY REPORTED THAT THE VALVE WAS STUCK DUE TO 'A CONSIDERABLE AMOUNT OF CARBON' IN THE VALVE GUIDE.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,843 hours in all; 1,000 in this make and model; 5 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days; 1,743 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,549 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 10, 1992; 69 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-300D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: P32 at 2:45 pm
- Destination: PRC Prescott AZ
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 6,000 ft by 60 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 340° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 39°F (4°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 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.