Cessna 172G accident near Independence, Oregon, December 17, 2023
On December 17, 2023, a 1966 Cessna 172G, registered N3992L, was destroyed in an accident during approach (VFR pattern final) near Independence, Oregon (Independence State Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 3 people were killed. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s decision to continue flight under visual flight rules into instrument meteorological conditions, which resulted in collision with an obstacle while landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 17, 2023
- Place
- Independence, Oregon · Independence State Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people were killed.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172G, built 1966 · all 172Gs on the register
- Registration
- N3992L · registry record · serial 17254161
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot and two pilot-rated passengers were returning to their home airport after they were advised by the pilot’s flight instructor not to return due to dense fog that reduced visibility to about 500 ft. During their arrival, the pilot made multiple advisory radio calls that confirmed his intention to land and activated the pilot-controlled runway lights (PCL). Recorded ADS-B data showed that while on the downwind leg, after passing the runway lights, the airplane veered toward the runway centerline as it continued the downwind leg. The pilot then performed a 180° base to final turn and overshot the runway centerline twice. The airplane then flew past the runway threshold and off to the side of the runway, where it impacted a power distribution line support pole about 694 ft from the approach end of the runway threshold. A postaccident fire substantially damaged the airplane. Postaccident examination of the airframe and engine revealed no mechanical malfunctions of failures that would have precluded normal operation. A weather study confirmed that instrument meteorological conditions (IMC) prevailed about the time of the airplane’s arrival. The pilot likely lost his ability to maintain visual reference through the fog during the landing approach.
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
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during approach
- Loss of visual reference during approach (VFR pattern final) defining event
- Collision during takeoff/land during approach (VFR pattern final)
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Ceiling/visibility/precip › Low visibility › Decision related to condition
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 150 hours in all; 150 in this make and model
- Last flight review: May 30, 2023
- Medical certificate: Class 1
- Seat: unk
- Injury: fatal
Pilot-Rated Passenger
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Seat: unk
- Injury: fatal
Pilot-Rated Passenger
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Medical certificate: Class 1
- Seat: unk
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,843 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 8, 2023
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-300D (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: MMV Mcminnville OR
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 34, 3,002 ft by 60 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: night
- Wind: from 190° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded
- Temperature: 36°F (2°C), dew point 34°F (1°C)
- Altimeter: 30.17 inHg
- Observation at 4:56 pm from KSLE, 9 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KSLE 170056Z 19003KT 5SM BR CLR 02/01 A3017 RMK AO2 SLP219 T00220011
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
8 documents, released by the NTSB on July 22, 2025. 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 | Interviews | PDF, 8 pages · our copy | View Download |
| 2 | ADS-B Kml Data | map file · our copy | Download |
| 3 | ADS-B Excel Data | data file · our copy | Download |
| 4 | Ctaf Recording | audio · our copy | View Download |
| 5 | Airframe and Engine Examination Report | PDF, 20 pages · our copy | View Download |
| 6 | Site Survey | PDF, 10 pages · our copy | View Download |
| 7 | Weather Study | PDF, 7 pages · our copy | View Download |
| 8 | Toxicological Report | PDF, 1 page · our copy | View Download |
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.