Cessna 172L accident near Yakima, Washington, May 30, 1992
On May 30, 1992 at about 6:20 pm local time, a Cessna 172L, registered N7583G, was substantially damaged in an accident near Yakima, Washington (Yakima airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN THE PROPER DESCENT RATE AND INADEQUATE REMEDIAL ACTION.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 30, 1992 · about 6:20 pm local time
- Place
- Yakima, Washington · Yakima · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172L · all 172Ls on the register
- Registration
- N7583G · registry record · serial 17259283
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT STATED THAT WHILE ON APPROACH HE WAS A LITTLE HIGH AND A LITTLE FAST, SO HE ADDED ADDITIONAL FLAPS. HE SAID THAT THE AIRCRAFT SEEMED TO LOSE LIFT AND WAS SINKING FAST WHILE HE WAS STILL SHORT OF THE RUNWAY. HE SAID HE ADDED FULL POWER BUT HE WAS TOO LATE. THE LEFT HORIZONTAL STABILIZER HIT A RUNWAY LIGHT, AND BOTH WINGTIPS STRUCK THE GROUND.
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: 654 hours in all; 612 in this make and model; 27 in the last 90 days; 11 in the last 30 days; 623 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,504 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 5, 1992; 11 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: ALW Walla Walla WA at 5:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27, 7,603 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 230° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 60 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:50 pm from YKM, 1 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
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.