Cessna 172 accident near Johnson Valley, California, April 3, 2012
On April 3, 2012 at about 3:20 pm local time, a Cessna 172, registered N6749A, was substantially damaged in an accident during standing (engine(s) start-up) near Johnson Valley, California (Valley Vista Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot did not properly secure the airplane prior to rotating the propeller by hand, resulting in inadvertent movement of the airplane.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 3, 2012 · about 3:20 pm local time
- Place
- Johnson Valley, California · Valley Vista Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172 UNDESIGNAT · all 172s on the register
- Registration
- N6749A · registry record · serial 28849
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
An acquaintance of the pilot had expressed an interest in learning to fly the pilot’s newly purchased airplane, and the pilot agreed to provide a demonstration/introductory flight. The acquaintance had no prior flight experience. On the morning of the planned flight, the pilot discovered that the airplane’s battery was dead and decided to start the engine by turning the propeller (hand-prop). He instructed the passenger, seated in the left seat, how to operate the brakes and throttle. The engine was hand-propped and started successfully by the pilot, but the airplane began to move forward. The pilot was unable to board the airplane, and the passenger was unable to control or stop the airplane or shut down the engine. An eyewitness reported that the engine rpm increased and the airplane accelerated as it traversed the airport. The airplane crossed a runway and struck a ground-mounted solar panel array located about 200 feet away. The airplane sustained damage to the propeller, engine mount, firewall, windscreen, wings, and nose landing gear. Four solar panels were also damaged. The passenger stated that due to inexperience, he was unable to properly operate the brakes, but he could not recall whether he attempted to manipulate the throttle during the event.
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
- Loss of control on ground during standing (engine(s) start-up) defining event
- Ground collision during standing (engine(s) start-up)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft handling/service › Parking/securing › Tie › down/mooring › Incorrect use/operation
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 3,300 hours in all; 150 in this make and model
- Last flight review: November 9, 2010
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,072 hours
- Maximum gross weight: 2,200 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental Motors O-300 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Valley Vista Flyers Inc
The flight
- Departed from: 6CA5 Johnson Valley CA at 3:20 pm
- Destination: 6CA5 Johnson Valley CA
- Flight plan: not recorded
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Passengers | 1 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number WPR12CA153.