Cessna 172 accident near Tampa, Florida, January 3, 1988
On January 3, 1988 at about 3:20 pm local time, a Cessna 172, registered N40AZ, was substantially damaged in an accident near Tampa, Florida (Vandenberg airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 3, 1988 · about 3:20 pm local time
- Place
- Tampa, Florida · Vandenberg · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172 · all 172s on the register
- Registration
- N40AZ · no longer on the register · serial 28999
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AFTER PREFLIGHTING THE ACFT, 30.8 GAL OF FUEL WERE ADDED. NO FURTHER INSP WAS PERFORMED. THE FLT TOOK OFF AFTER AN ENG RUNUP WAS ACCOMPLISHED. NO PROBLEMS WERE NOTED. DURING THE INITIAL CLIMB OF THE FIRST TOUCH-AND-GO LANDING, AT AN ALT OF APRX 75 FT, THE ENG QUIT. WHEN ATTEMPTING TO LAND ON AN ACCESS ROAD, THE PLT LANDED SHORT. AS A RESULT, THE NOSE AND RIGHT MAIN LANDING GEAR SEPARATED. PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT, THE ACFT SAT OUTSIDE UNCOVERED FOR APRX FIVE WEEKS WITH 6.2 GAL OF FUEL ON BOARD. INSP OF THE ACFT REVEALED THAT THE LT FUEL TANK CONTAINED APRX 1 PINT OF WATER. NO SAMPLE COULD BE OBTAINED FROM THE RT TANK. DRAINING OF THE GASCOLATOR REVEALED THAT IT CONTAINED MOSTLY WATER. ACCORDING TO FAA RECORDS, THE PLT'S MEDICAL CERTIFICATE HAD EXPIRED.
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: 246 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (expired)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 2,075 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-300-A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 36, 3,260 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 060° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 800 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 61°F (16°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:51 pm from TPA, 10 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.