Cessna 172N accident near Prescott, Arizona, June 9, 1996
On June 9, 1996 at about 6:50 pm local time, a Cessna 172N, registered N737WR, was substantially damaged in an accident near Prescott, Arizona (Ernest A. Love Field). It was an instructional 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 failure of the pilot to adequately compensate for gusty crosswind conditions, which resulted in loss of aircraft control.
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 6:50 pm local time
- Place
- Prescott, Arizona · Ernest A. Love Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172N · all 172Ns on the register
- Registration
- N737WR · registry record · serial 17269735
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to the pilot, the ATIS reported surface winds of 12 knots; however, immediately after touchdown, a gust of wind picked up the right wing of the aircraft. The aircraft weathervaned and veered off the runway to the right. The left main gear impacted a taxiway sign and collapsed, causing the aircraft to ground loop to the left. The aircraft came to rest in a ditch between the runway and the parallel taxiway, approximately 1,000 feet from the threshold, heading 075 degrees. The reported weather at the time included wind gusts to 20 knots and observers estimated that winds were gusting up to 30 knots.
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: 96 hours in all; 96 in this make and model; 26 in the last 90 days; 26 in the last 30 days; 26 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 7,098 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, June 7, 1996; 10 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,500 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A4N (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: BLH Blythe CA at 5:30 pm
- Destination: PRC
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 21R, 4,842 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 240° at 12 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility: 65 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 91°F (33°C), dew point 39°F (4°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:47 pm from PRC
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 N737WR 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.