# Accident 20040314005469A: Cessna 172C, Thermal, CA, March 14, 2004

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: March 14, 2004, 18:00 local time
- Place: Thermal, CA
- Airport: Private
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Go Round (Aborted VFR)
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 33.6281° N, 116.1603° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.6281&lon=-116.1603&mi=10
- Aircraft: N8287X, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N8287X) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cessna 172C (registry code 2072408, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172c) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Continental 0-300 series (registry code 17022, https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-300-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172C
- Reported engine: CONT O300D
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 645 total, 605 in this make and model, 16 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB LAX04CA157](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX04CA157) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040314005469A

## Narrative

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

(-23) ON MARCH 14, 2004 THE PILOT IN COMMAND OF N8287X COMMENCED A FLIGHT FROM DESERT CENTER AIRPORT, DESERT CENTER, CA (L64) TO HIS PRIVATELY OWNED LANDING STRIP AT ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ THE FLIGHT WAS TERMINATED WITH LOSS OF CONTROL DURING THE LANDING PHASE AT APPROXIMATELY 14:30 PST. THE PILOT STATED THAT THE AIRCRAFT HAD NO MECHANICAL PROBLEMS AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. DURING THE APPROACH THE PILOT STATED HE WAS HIGH AND FAST, BUT CONTINUED HIS APPROACH ANYWAY. THE PILOT STATED HE REITERATED THESE FACTS TO HIS PASSENGER AND FELT UNCOMFORTABLE ABOUT HIS ALTITUDE AND SPEED. THE PILOT TOUCHED DOWN AND DID NOT HAVE ENOUGH USABLE RUNWAY TO STOP THE AIRCRAFT. THE PILOT STATED HE ELECTED TO INITIATE A GO AROUND AFTER HIS LENGTHY LANDING. DURING THE GO AROUND THE PILOT TURNED THE AIRCRAFT TO THE LEFT AND TRIED TO KEEP THE AIRCRAFT IN THE AIR. THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK A MESQUITE TREE AND IMPACTED THE GROUND. THE PILOT SAID AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT THE TEMPERATURE WAS NINETY DEGREES FAHRENHEIT AND RUNWAY LENGTH WAS APPROXIMATELY 1,750 FEET.

## 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 LAX04CA157](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX04CA157), Mar 14, 2004: Cessna 172C (N8287X), Thermal, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: the pilot's failure to retract the flaps during the go-around and his failure to obtain and maintain sufficient airspeed, which led to a stall mush condition. High density altitude was a contributing…

## Other reports on N8287X (1)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Accident 20110507030409A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20110507030409A), May 7, 2011: Cessna 172C (N8287X), Substantial damage. Firewall damage found during annual inspection. Aircraft owner thinks it may have been caused by a hard landing.

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.

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