Cessna 172M accident near Big Bear City, California, May 28, 2008
On May 28, 2008 at about 6:51 pm local time, a Cessna 172M, registered N21134, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing near Big Bear City, California (Big Bear City airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed while on approach to landing that resulted in a stall/mush. Contributing to the accident was the wind shear and the high density altitude condition.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 28, 2008 · about 6:51 pm local time
- Place
- Big Bear City, California · Big Bear City · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172M · all 172Ms on the register
- Registration
- N21134 · no longer on the register · serial 17263896
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot was on approach to runway 26 about 80 feet over the runway, when she believed she experienced a severe windshear, which caused the airplane to veer to the left. The pilot raised the flaps, added full power, and initiated a go-around, but was initially unable to get the airplane to climb. A pilot witness reported observing the airplane about 50 feet over the runway, slowing but not descending, and thought it was going to stall. The witness stated that the airplane slowed even more, then banked left and right at up to a 45-degree angle of bank. The witness saw the airplane's wings continue to oscillate in roll, then it banked sharply to the left as the nose achieved a steep nose up attitude, while remaining at 40 to 50 feet above the ground. The airplane then impacted a set of power lines. Wind gusts at the time of the accident were reported at 12 knots. There were no anomalies reported with the airplane prior to the flight. The density altitude at the mountain airport was calculated to be about 7,700 feet.
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
What happened, in order
- Windshear or thunderstorm during landing defining event
- Loss of control in flight during approach (VFR go-around)
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during uncontrolled descent
The NTSB's findings
- factor Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Windshear › Contributed to outcome
- factor Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Temp/humidity/pressure › High density altitude › Contributed to outcome
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Crosswind correction › Not attained/maintained
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Airspeed › Not attained/maintained
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Wire › Not specified
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 186 hours in all; 176 in this make and model; 10 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days; 117 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: February 1, 2007
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,589 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 1, 2007; 20 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: TOA Torrance CA at 5:20 pm
- Destination: L35 Big Bear City CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 26, 5,850 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 240° at 9 knots, gusting 12
- Visibility: 19 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 54°F (12°C), dew point 16°F (-9°C)
- Altimeter: 30.11 inHg
- Observation at 6:51 pm from L35
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.