Cessna 172N accident near Gasquet, California, April 3, 1994
On April 3, 1994 at about 5:41 pm local time, a Cessna 172N, registered N6290D, was destroyed in an accident near Gasquet, California (Ward Field). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured and 3 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO ADEQUATELY COMPENSATE FOR THE CROSS- WIND CONDITIONS, AND TO MAINTAIN PROPER ALIGNMENT WITH THE RUNWAY.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 3, 1994 · about 5:41 pm local time
- Place
- Gasquet, California · Ward Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 3 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172N · all 172Ns on the register
- Registration
- N6290D · no longer on the register · serial 17272696
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported she circled the field to determine the prevailing winds and to select a landing runway. After observing the windsocks, she estimated the wind to be from 060 degrees at 8 knots, which she believed favored runway 06. She then established the aircraft on final approach, planning to land long. While on final, she extended full flaps and stabilized the airspeed at 60 knots. As the aircraft descended to about 40 feet AGL just past the approach end, a gusting right crosswind caused the aircraft to be 'pushed' off its approach path. The pilot said she attempted to correct her direction of flight and applied full power. However, due to her reduced airspeed and full flap configuration she said she was unable to establish a positive rate of climb in time to avoid some 30 to 40 foot trees about 30 yards off the left side of the runway. As a result, the left wing of the aircraft struck a tree, causing the aircraft to yaw and fall through the trees to the ground.
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: 218 hours in all; 47 in this make and model; 6 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days; 127 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,722 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, March 8, 1994; 47 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,400 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-H2AD (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Buchanan Flying Club INC.
The flight
- Departed from: CEC Crescent City CA at 5:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 6, 2,990 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 350° at 25 knots, gusting 30
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 54°F (12°C), dew point 43°F (6°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 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.