Cessna 172N accident near Bermuda Dunes, California, June 9, 1996
On June 9, 1996 at about 3:46 pm local time, a Cessna 172N, registered N734FB, was destroyed in an accident near Bermuda Dunes, California (Bermuda Dunes airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 3 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilot's impairment of judgment and performance due to alcohol and drugs (methamphetamine, amphetamine, & marijuana), his excessive maneuvering (pull-up) after making a touch-and-go landing, and his failure to maintain sufficient airspeed, which resulted in a stall and subsequent collision with the terrain.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 9, 1996 · about 3:46 pm local time
- Place
- Bermuda Dunes, California · Bermuda Dunes · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172N · all 172Ns on the register
- Registration
- N734FB · no longer on the register · serial 17268811
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
A witness said the aircraft (acft) landed on runway (rwy) 28, then took off again. After lift-off, the acft was observed to accelerate over the rwy, then climb in an extreme nose high attitude. While still in a climb, it suddenly rolled to the right & pitched forward. The acft continued in a nose low, steep descent until it disappeared from view. A flight instructor (CFI) observed the pilot (plt) on a previous takeoff. He said that on that flight, the plt pulled the acft's nose up until the acft almost stalled, then he leveled the acft. The CFI warned the plt, but said the plt replied that he had only slowed to 50 kts. The plt was scheduled to surrender his plt's certificate for a 120-day suspension following a 2nd conviction for motor vehicle violations (DUI). A toxicology test of the plt's blood showed 113 mg/dl (0.113%) ethanol, 0.862 mcg/ml methamphetamine (stimulant), 0.032 mcg/ml amphetamine (stimulant), 0.005 mcg/ml tetrahydrocannabinol carboxylic acid (metabolite of marijuana), & an unreported level of tetrahydrocannabinol (marijuana). Tests also showed the plt had 164 mg/dl (0.164%) ethanol in urine & 143 mg/dl (0.143%) ethanol in vitreous fluid. A test of the passenger's blood showed 0.009 mcg/ml tetrahydrocannabinol, 0.028 mcg/ml tetrahydrocannabinol carboxylic acid, 0.878 mcg/ml methamphetamine, & 0.092 mcg/ml amphetamine.
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: 110 hours in all; 40 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,903 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, May 22, 1996; 33 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,400 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-H2AD (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: UDD at 3:04 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 28L, 5,002 ft by 70 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 150° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 93°F (34°C), dew point 50°F (10°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:47 pm from UDD
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.