Cessna 172RG accident near San Manuel, Arizona, June 16, 1998
On June 16, 1998 at about 9:00 pm local time, a Cessna 172RG, registered N519PU, was substantially damaged in an accident near San Manuel, Arizona (San Manuel airport). It was an instructional 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 failure of the certified flight instructor to maintain directional control while landing with a sudden windshift.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 16, 1998 · about 9:00 pm local time
- Place
- San Manuel, Arizona · San Manuel · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172RG · all 172RGs on the register
- Registration
- N519PU · no longer on the register · serial 172RG1136
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The certified flight instructor reported that the winds were from 090 degrees at a velocity of 10 to 15 knots, with gusts from 20 to 25 knots. The student initiated an approach to runway 11. The CFI reported that during the landing flare, the wind direction and speed changed to a right quartering tailwind. The CFI took over the controls and initiated a go-around. The aircraft did not gain lift and veered off the runway. The nose gear broke off and the aircraft came to rest on the main landing gear. The pilot reported that there was no mechanical malfunction with the aircraft prior to the accident.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 602 hours in all; 150 in this make and model; 122 in the last 90 days; 71 in the last 30 days; 539 as pilot in command; 179 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 11,227 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, June 2, 1998; 46 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,650 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-FIA6 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SDL Scottsdale AZ at 8:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 11, 4,214 ft by 55 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 090° at 10 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 90°F (32°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Observation at 9:00 pm from PRC
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.
Other NTSB records under N519PU 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.