Cessna 172N accident near Sedona, Arizona, January 24, 1993
On January 24, 1993, a Cessna 172N, registered N737EA, was substantially damaged in an accident near Sedona, Arizona (Sedona airport). It was a personal 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 PILOTS INADEQUATE COMPENSATION FOR THE EXISTING WIND CONDITIONS AND HIS DELAY IN EXECUTING A GO AROUND. A FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT WAS THE PILOT'S LACK OF TOTAL EXPERIENCE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 24, 1993
- Place
- Sedona, Arizona · Sedona · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172N · all 172Ns on the register
- Registration
- N737EA · no longer on the register · serial 17269351
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT SAID HE SELECTED A STRAIGHT IN APPROACH TO RUNWAY 3 IN WINDS REPORTED FROM 030 DEGREES AT 20 KNOTS WITH GUSTS TO 25 KNOTS. DURING THE APPROACH THE PILOT SAID THAT A 'DOWNDRAFT BECAME APPARENT.' THE PILOT SAID HE CONTINUED THE APPROACH AND 'POWER WAS ADDED UNTIL THE POINT OF DROPPING BELOW THE GLIDE SLOPE WHEN FULL POWER WAS APPLIED AND GO AROUND PROCEDURES WERE IMMEDIATELY EXECUTED.' THE PILOT NOTED THAT HE TURNED IN AN ATTEMPT TO CLEAR A RIDGE, BUT THE AIRCRAFT CONTINUED TO SINK AND COLLIDED WITH THE RIDGE ABOUT 50 YARDS SOUTHEAST OF THE RUNWAY. THE AIRPORT IS IN A VALLEY AND WAS CONSTRUCTED BY GRADING OFF THE TOP OF A HILL OR RIDGE. THE TERRAIN DROPS AWAY FROM THE RUNWAY ON ALL SIDES.
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: 106 hours in all; 17 in this make and model; 4 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days; 106 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,725 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, November 11, 1992; 87 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-H2AD (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Action Aviation
The flight
- Departed from: GEU Glendale AZ at 9:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 3, 5,131 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 030° at 20 knots, gusting 25
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 39°F (4°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.