Cessna 172P accident near Grants Pass, Oregon, May 12, 2001
On May 12, 2001 at about 8:01 pm local time, a Cessna 172P, registered N62961, was substantially damaged in an accident near Grants Pass, Oregon (Grants Pass airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure or inability to maintain proper runway alignment during landing. Factors included gusty crosswind conditions and the pilot's lack of experience in crosswind landings.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 12, 2001 · about 8:01 pm local time
- Place
- Grants Pass, Oregon · Grants Pass · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172P · all 172Ps on the register
- Registration
- N62961 · no longer on the register · serial 17275369
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The newly certificated private pilot, who had received his private pilot certificate 8 days before the accident, was attempting a landing in gusty crosswind conditions. During the landing flare, a gust blew the airplane to the left of the runway and the airplane subsequently impacted the ground. The pilot indicated that no mechanical malfunction or failure of the airplane was involved. According to the FAA, the pilot had not demonstrated crosswind landings on his recent FAA private pilot practical test, due to lack of crosswind conditions.
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: 80 hours in all; 77 in this make and model; 16 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 25 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: May 4, 2001
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,877 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, February 23, 2001; 66 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,396 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-D2J (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Friendly Air Service
The flight
- Departed from: 3S8 Grants Pass OR at 7:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 12, 3,999 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 160° at 13 knots, gusting 19
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 37°F (3°C)
- Altimeter: 29.89 inHg
- Observation at 7:56 pm from SXT, 6 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 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 N62961 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.