Cessna 172M accident near Turlock, California, May 29, 1993
On May 29, 1993 at about 2:10 am local time, a Cessna 172M, registered N12857, was destroyed in an accident near Turlock, California (Turlock Muni airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 3 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S POORLY PLANNED APPROACH AND HIS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN AIRSPEED.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 29, 1993 · about 2:10 am local time
- Place
- Turlock, California · Turlock Muni
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 3 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172M · all 172Ms on the register
- Registration
- N12857 · registry record · serial 17262316
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE AT CRUISE FLIGHT THE PILOT NOTICED BOTH FUEL GAUGES INDICATING NEARLY EMPTY. THE PILOT FLEW TO THE CLOSEST AIRPORT TO REFUEL. THE PILOT MADE TWO APPROACHES TO THE AIRPORT, BUT BOTH APPROACHES WERE TOO HIGH. THE PILOT REENTERED THE TRAFFIC PATTERN AND BEGAN THE DESCENT WHILE ON THE DOWNWIND LEG AT MIDFIELD. DURING THE TURN ONTO THE BASE LEG THE PILOT FAILED TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE AIRSPEED AND INADVERTENTLY STALLED THE AIRPLANE.
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: single-engine land
- Flight time: 900 hours in all; 800 in this make and model; 5 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days; 800 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,957 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 9, 1993; 103 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2D (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Sacramento Aero Club
The flight
- Departed from: 3O8 Coalinga CA at 1:00 am
- Destination: Q96 Sacramento CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 3, 2,985 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 2 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number LAX93LA230.