Cessna 172L accident near Delta, Utah, July 11, 1992
On July 11, 1992 at about 5:19 pm local time, a Cessna 172L, registered N9871G, was substantially damaged in an accident near Delta, Utah (Delta 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 FAILURE OF AN INTAKE VALVE AND THE POORLY EXECUTED FORCED LANDING.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 11, 1992 · about 5:19 pm local time
- Place
- Delta, Utah · Delta · 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
- N9871G · no longer on the register · serial 17259771
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING A PLEASURE CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT, THE AIRPLANE BEGAN TO SHAKE AND THE ENGINE RPM DECREASED. THE PILOT DIVERTED TO A NEARBY RUNWAY AND LANDED DOWNWIND. AFTER THE AIRPLANE TOUCHED DOWN, IT BOUNCED AND CONTINUED TO BOUNCE THE LENGTH OF THE RUNWAY. THE AIRPLANE FINALLY SETTLED AS IT RAN OFF THE END OF THE RUNWAY AND CONTINUED TO TRAVEL THROUGH A BARBED WIRE FENCE AND BEEHIVE BOXES BEFORE COMING TO REST. POST-CRASH INSPECTION OF THE ENGINE REVEALED THAT THE NUMBER 4 INTAKE VALVE WAS BROKEN. DUE TO DAMAGE OF THE FRACTURE ENDS, THE FAILURE MODE WAS NOT DETERMINED.
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: 92 hours in all; 43 in this make and model; 9 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days; 28 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 2, 1900
- Maximum gross weight: 2,150 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: U42 Salt Lake City UT at 2:40 pm
- Destination: CDC Cedar City UT
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 34, 6,011 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 8,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.