Cessna 170A accident near Temple Bar, Nevada, November 16, 1986
On November 16, 1986 at about 6:45 pm local time, a Cessna 170A, registered N5780C, was substantially damaged in an accident near Temple Bar, Nevada. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people 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
- November 16, 1986 · about 6:45 pm local time
- Place
- Temple Bar, Nevada · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 170A · all 170As on the register
- Registration
- N5780C · no longer on the register · serial 19836
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT DEPARTED WITH ABOUT 17 GALS OF AUTO FUEL ON BOARD. DURING FLT, THE RIGHT FUEL TANK WAS EMPTIED & THE FUEL SELECTOR WAS MOVED TO THE LEFT TANK POSITION. ABOUT 1.7 HRS AFTER TAKING OFF, THE PLT ENTERED A LEFT SLIP TO DSCND & MAKE A LOW PASS DOWN A RWY TO OBSERVE IT AT LOW ALTITUDE. WHEN HE ADVANCED THE THROTTLE TO APPLY POWER, THE ENG DID NOT RESPOND. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE ACFT WAS DAMAGED DURING A FORCED LANDING ON ROUGH TERRAIN.
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: 852 hours in all; 613 in this make and model; 9 in the last 90 days; 804 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,400 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 27, 1986; 39 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,200 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental C-145-2 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: IGM Kingman AZ at 4:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 100 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 70°F (21°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.