Cessna 172H accident near Borrego Springs, California, October 28, 1995
On October 28, 1995 at about 4:27 pm local time, a Cessna 172H, registered N2552L, was substantially damaged in an accident near Borrego Springs, California (Borrego Valley airport). 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 preflight inspection which failed to detect a bird's nest in the air induction system. Factors in the accident were carburetor icing conditions and the pilot's improper use of carburetor heat.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 28, 1995 · about 4:27 pm local time
- Place
- Borrego Springs, California · Borrego Valley · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172H · all 172Hs on the register
- Registration
- N2552L · registry record · serial 17255752
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot stated that while descending for landing he applied carburetor heat. The engine rpm decreased to about 1000, and subsequently could not be adjusted by the pilot. The pilot then elected to land on a dirt area in a landfill southeast of the airport. The nose gear collapsed rearward during the landing on the uneven terrain. Straw debris was found surrounding the heat muff leading to the carburetor air box. Similar debris was also found in a large quantity inside the air box behind the air cleaner bracket. The temperature was 67 and the dew point 53 degrees Fahrenheit. This temperature/dew point range is in an area on the carburetor icing probability chart which is annotated for moderate carburetor icing at cruise power and serious carburetor icing at glide power.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land
- Flight time: 3,000 hours in all; 700 in this make and model; 5 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days; 2,940 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,849 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 1, 1995
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-300-D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SDM San Diego CA at 4:00 pm
- Destination: L08 Borrego Valley CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 8 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 25,000 ft; scat at 15,000 ft
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:51 pm from TRM, 25 miles away
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.