Cessna 172G accident near Pope Valley, California, February 9, 1995
On February 9, 1995 at about 10:15 pm local time, a Cessna 172G, registered N4345L, was destroyed in an accident near Pope Valley, California. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilot's poor judgment to buzz the lake and his inadequate visual lookout.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 9, 1995 · about 10:15 pm local time
- Place
- Pope Valley, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172G · all 172Gs on the register
- Registration
- N4345L · no longer on the register · serial 17254416
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
GROUND WITNESSES, INCLUDING TWO SHERIFF DEPUTIES, OBSERVED THE AIRPLANE FLYING OVER THE LAKE AT A LOW ALTITUDE WHILE MAINTAINING A NOSE-LEVEL ATTITUDE. ONE DEPUTY NOTED THE AIRPLANE REGISTRATION NUMBER BEFORE IT STRUCK HIGH-TENSION WIRES THAT SPANNED THE LAKE. THE AIRPLANE PLUNGED INTO THE LAKE AFTER THE COLLISION AND SANK. THE WRECKAGE EXAMINATION SHOWED SEVERAL WIRE ARCING SIGNATURES ON THE AIRFRAME AND PROPELLER ASSEMBLIES. THE EXAMINATION ALSO REVEALED NO EVIDENCE OF ANY PREIMPACT MALFUNCTIONS OR FAILURES.
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: 399 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,389 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 1, 1994; 88 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-300-D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: O69 Petaluma CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 200° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 29 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:45 pm from APA
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.
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.