Cessna 172 accident near Lakeport, California, August 25, 1994
On August 25, 1994 at about 8:30 pm local time, a Cessna 172, registered N9447E, was substantially damaged in an accident near Lakeport, California (Lampson Field). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's inadequate compensation for the existing cross wind conditions, and failure to maintain directional control of the airplane during landing rollout.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 25, 1994 · about 8:30 pm local time
- Place
- Lakeport, California · Lampson Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172 · all 172s on the register
- Registration
- N9447E · no longer on the register · serial 17272267
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AT THE CONCLUSION OF A CROSS-COUNTRY FLIGHT, THE PILOT MADE A TRAFFIC PATTERN APPROACH AND LANDED ON RUNWAY 28. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THE AIRPLANE TOUCHED DOWN WITHIN THE FIRST 1/3 OF THE RUNWAY, AND DURING ROLLOUT, ENCOUNTERED A WIND BETWEEN 180 AND 270 DEGREES AT 10 TO 25 KNOTS. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT DESPITE ALL HER EFFORTS, SHE WAS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN A GROUND TRACK DOWN THE RUNWAY, AND SHE LOST CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE. THE AIRPLANE VEERED OFF THE RUNWAY AND ENTERED A DITCH. FOUR MONTHS EARLIER, THE PILOT HAD BEEN ISSUED A PRIVATE PILOT CERTIFICATE.
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: 141 hours in all; 19 in this make and model; 26 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days; 67 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,442 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, July 22, 1994; 20 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-H2AD (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Sundance Flying Club
The flight
- Departed from: PAO Palo Alto CA at 7:15 pm
- Destination: 1O2 CA
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 28, 3,515 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 10 knots, gusting 25
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 90°F (32°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.
Other NTSB records under N9447E the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.