Cessna 175 accident near El Monte, California, May 27, 2017
On May 27, 2017 at about 3:15 am local time, a 1959 Cessna 175, registered N6832D, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach (VFR go-around) near El Monte, California (San Gabriel Valley airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 3 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The flight instructor's delayed remedial action, which resulted in an exceedance of the airplane's critical angle of attack and an aerodynamic stall and loss of control. Contributing to the accident was the student pilot's failure to maintain runway alignment on approach.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 27, 2017 · about 3:15 am local time
- Place
- El Monte, California · San Gabriel Valley · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 175 UNDESIGNAT, built 1959 · all 175s on the register
- Registration
- N6832D · no longer on the register · serial 55751
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The student pilot was practicing touch-and-go landings during an instructional flight with a flight instructor on board. During the eighth landing, the airplane drifted to the right of the runway just before touchdown, and the flight instructor applied full left rudder to correct as the airplane touched down. The airplane's nose yawed to the right. The student applied full power, the airplane became airborne, and the stall horn activated. The flight instructor pushed the nose down, but the elevator control had "no travel." The instructor was unable to regain control, and the airplane subsequently settled back to the ground and impacted a drainage channel and trees. It could not be determined whether there was any communication or coordination between the student and the instructor that resulted in the student's application of engine power. Postaccident examination revealed no mechanical malfunctions or failures of the flight control system that would have precluded normal operation. Witness marks identified on the side of the fuselage revealed that the flaps were extended to 30o at the time of impact. It is likely that, by the time the flight instructor attempted to regain control in this configuration, the airplane was at or near its critical angle of attack, and the instructor was unable to regain control before the airplane experienced an aerodynamic stall, impacted the runway, and subsequently departed the runway surface.
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
- Attempted remediation/recovery during approach (VFR pattern final)
- Loss of control in flight during approach (VFR go-around) defining event
- Runway excursion during landing (flare/touchdown)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Delayed action › Instructor/check pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Angle of attack › Capability exceeded
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- factor Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Student/instructed pilot
Flight instructor
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,560 hours in all; 450 in this make and model; 85 in the last 90 days; 2,504 as pilot in command; 1,750 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: minor injuries
Dual student
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 59 hours in all; 59 in this make and model; 1 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
Passenger
- Seat: rear
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 18, 2017
- Maximum gross weight: 2,348 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A1A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: EMT El Monte CA
- Destination: EMT El Monte CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 19, 3,995 ft by 75 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Wind: from 270° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 59°F (15°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 30.02 inHg
- Observation at 3:47 am from KPOC, 13 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
7 documents, released by the NTSB on December 21, 2017. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Air Traffic Control Transcript Excerpt | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Email Lasd | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 4 | Reports from Parties to the Investigation | PDF, 5 pages | View Download |
| 5 | Aircraft Maintenance Records | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 6 | Statement of Party Representatives to NTSB Investigation | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 7 | Release of Aircraft Wreckage, NTSB Form 6120.15 | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.