Cessna 172F accident near Ocotillo, California, August 26, 1996
On August 26, 1996, a Cessna 172F, registered N5543R, was substantially damaged in an accident near Ocotillo, California (Ocotillo Wells airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilot's failure to maintain proper runway alignment. The sun glare and proximity of rocks were related factors.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 26, 1996
- Place
- Ocotillo, California · Ocotillo Wells · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172F · all 172Fs on the register
- Registration
- N5543R · no longer on the register · serial 17253127
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
While landing to the west on dirt runway 27, the airplane drifted off the runway centerline and collided with rocks that marked where runway 9/27 intersected with runway 13/31. The pilot reported that he was blinded by the sun during the landing rollout. According to a computer generated Sun/Moon astrological program, the magnetic bearing to the sun was 255 degrees, and it was about 18 degrees above the horizon. According to the pilot, the airplane did not experience any preimpact malfunction or failure.
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; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 1,638 hours in all; 992 in this make and model; 12 in the last 90 days; 7 in the last 30 days; 1,638 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,523 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 26, 1996; 17 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: L39 Ramona CA
- Destination: L90
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27, 2,475 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 20 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 90°F (32°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.