Cessna 172 accident near San Diego, California, December 13, 2020
On December 13, 2020 at about 8:50 pm local time, a 1978 Cessna 172, registered N5098E, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near San Diego, California (Montgomery-Gibbs Executive airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A partial loss of engine power due to the fatigue fracture of the No. 3 exhaust valve rocker arm stud.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 13, 2020 · about 8:50 pm local time
- Place
- San Diego, California · Montgomery-Gibbs Executive · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172 N, built 1978 · all 172s on the register
- Registration
- N5098E · no longer on the register · serial 17271711
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to the flight instructor, the purpose of the flight was for the student pilot to practice touch-and-go landings. During the second takeoff, as the airplane was about 100-150 ft above ground level, he detected a loss of engine power and assumed control of the airplane. He landed the airplane on the remaining runway but overran the departure end of the runway and struck the airport perimeter fence. Both wings sustained substantial damage. Examination of the engine revealed that the No. 3 exhaust rocker arm stud was fractured. Metallurgical examination of the fracture surfaces on the rocker arm stud revealed that it had fractured due to fatigue. The fatigue fracture of the No. 3 exhaust valve rocker arm stud likely led to the partial loss of engine power.
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 engine power (partial) during takeoff defining event
- Runway excursion during landing
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine (reciprocating) › Recip eng cyl section › Fatigue/wear/corrosion
- Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine (reciprocating) › Recip eng cyl section › Failure
Flight instructor
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 413 hours in all; 381 in this make and model; 33 in the last 90 days; 9 in the last 30 days; 347 as pilot in command; 49 on instruments
- Last flight review: June 4, 2020
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Dual student
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 60 hours in all; 60 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,653 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 3, 2020
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-H2AD (piston); 11,283 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 28R, 4,598 ft by 150 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 250° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 28°F (-2°C)
- Altimeter: 30.18 inHg
- Observation at 12:53 pm from KMYF
Weather report (METAR): KMYF 132053Z 25009KT 10SM CLR 19/M02 A3018 RMK AO2 SLP219 T01941017 58021
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
8 documents, released by the NTSB on June 22, 2022. 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 | Materials Laboratory Factual Report 21-063 | PDF, 7 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Record of Phone Conversation (Owner) | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 4 | Engine Exam | PDF, 5 pages | View Download |
| 5 | Recovery Statements | PDF, 7 pages | View Download |
| 6 | Release of Aircraft Wreckage, NTSB Form 6120.15 | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 7 | Evidence Control Form | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 8 | Damage Photos | PDF, 6 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.