# Accident 19960219009479A: Cessna 172N, Julian, CA, February 19, 1996

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: February 19, 1996, 20:14 local time
- Place: Julian, CA
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Unauth Low Level Opns
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 33.0208° N, 116.4896° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.0208&lon=-116.4896&mi=10
- Aircraft: N738ED, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N738ED-2017-06-30) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cessna 172N (registry code 2072434, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172n) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming 0-320 series (registry code 41508, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172N
- Reported engine: LYC O320H2AD
- People aboard: 3
- Fatal injuries: 3
- Pilot flight hours: 4,000 total, 1,500 in this make and model, 75 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB LAX96FA115](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX96FA115) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960219009479A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

ENCOUNTERED UNCONTROLLABLE DOWNDRAFTS. IMPACTED JUST BELOW RIDGE LINE. SEVERE WINDS ALOFT.LENTICULAR CLOUDS PRESENT

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB LAX96FA115](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX96FA115), Feb 20, 1996: Cessna 172N (N738ED), Julian, CA, destroyed, 3 fatal. Probable cause: the pilot's delay in requesting assistance to avoid high terrain. Factors were: the downdrafts, mountainous terrain, and the pilot's improper in-flight planning.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.
