Cessna 172S accident near Davenport, California, May 8, 2015
On May 8, 2015 at about 9:43 am local time, a 2011 Cessna 172S, registered N191TG, was involved in an accident near Davenport, California. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
Undetermined because the airplane was not located.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 8, 2015 · about 9:43 am local time
- Place
- Davenport, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172S S, built 2011 · all 172Ss on the register
- Registration
- N191TG · no longer on the register · serial 172S11097
- Damage
- Not recorded
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The commercial pilot departed the airport in the middle of the night for an unknown destination. Later that day, a representative of the operator reported that the pilot and airplane were missing. The representative reported that the missing pilot was a contract flight instructor for the operator; however, the accident flight was not authorized, and local law enforcement officials later classified the airplane as stolen. Recorded radar data attributed to the airplane showed a radar track west to the Pacific Ocean, then south along the California coastline. The last transponder return was recorded over the water about 5 miles west of the shoreline at an altitude of 800 ft above sea level. Primary targets consistent with the airplane's flight were recorded heading southwest over the ocean until no longer visible on radar. A sea search for the missing airplane and ramp checks at several airports along the apparent route of flight were conducted; however, no wreckage was found. The airplane and pilot remain missing.
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
- Missing aircraft during unknown defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
- Personnel issues › Miscellaneous › Intentional act › Stolen/unauthorized › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: unk
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,330 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, April 15, 2015
- Maximum gross weight: 2,299 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-L2A (piston); 0 hours total
- Not recorded
The flight
- Departed from: PAO Palo Alto CA at 8:15 am
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: night
- Wind: from 140° at 9 knots, gusting 14
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 12,000 ft
- Temperature: 54°F (12°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 29.79 inHg
- Observation at 8:56 am from KNUQ
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.