Cessna 172P accident near Santa Ynez, California, June 5, 2024
On June 5, 2024 at about 11:39 pm local time, a 1986 Cessna 172P, registered N9567L, was substantially damaged in an accident during maneuvering (low-alt flying) near Santa Ynez, California (Santa Ynez Airport/Kunkle Fiel). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s failure to maintain airspeed which resulted in exceedance of the critical angle of attack and an aerodynamic stall/spin, with insufficient altitude for recovery. The student pilot’s exceedance of the critical angle of attack which resulted in a stall and subsequent spin during a go-around.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 5, 2024 · about 11:39 pm local time
- Place
- Santa Ynez, California · Santa Ynez Airport/Kunkle Fiel · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172P, built 1986 · all 172Ps on the register
- Registration
- N9567L · no longer on the register · serial 17276579
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The student pilot reported that while landing to the runway, he performed two go-arounds, and on the . On the third landing attempt to land, he experienced two “bumps” followed by a gust of wind which aggravated the third “bump” into an oscillation that slammed the airplane into the ground and it became airborne. The pilot , which prompted the pilot to performed a “touch-and go.” procedure” According to the pilot, while on climb out, he heard “he heard the engine die” and began the procedures for an emergency landing without engine power. While in a left turn to avoid obstacles, He reported that while in a left turn, the airplane stalled and subsequently entered a spin. spun. His last recollections were of trying to correct the spin. A witness reported that they observed the airplane on the third landing, and that it landed hard, bounced multiple times, and struck the tail and possibly the propeller before it began to climb. The witness stated that the airplane then turned left and about 150 to 200 ft above ground level (agl), it banked left and then descended and impacted the ground. They added that the engine sounded like it was at full rpm until it impacted the ground. The pilot stated that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation.
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
- Abnormal runway contact during landing (aborted after touchdown)
- Off-field or emergency landing during maneuvering (low-alt flying)
- Aerodynamic stall/spin during maneuvering (low-alt flying) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Airspeed › Not attained/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 112 hours in all; 15.5 in this make and model; 21.2 in the last 90 days; 12.7 in the last 30 days; 4 as pilot in command; 0 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 7,910.5 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, April 4, 2024
- Maximum gross weight: 2,550 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A4M (piston); 4,175 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SZP Santa Paula CA at 11:00 pm
- Destination: IZA Santa Ynz CA
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 26, 2,803 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 250° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 63°F (17°C)
- Altimeter: 29.84 inHg
- Observation at 4:35 pm from KIZA
Weather report (METAR): KIZA 052335Z AUTO 25009KT 10SM CLR 29/17 A2984 RMK AO2
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Photographs from the investigation 2 pictures from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
The NTSB's photographs with the NTSB's captions, at screen size. Open a picture to see it full size or to report one that should not be shown.
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
3 documents, released by the NTSB on February 12, 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 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Photos | PDF, 2 pages · our copy | View Download |
| 3 | Witness Statements | PDF, 1 page | 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.