# Accident 20171214024349A: Cessna 172P, Valley Springs, CA, December 14, 2017

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: December 14, 2017, 14:00 local time
- Place: Valley Springs, CA
- Airport: Wagon Wheel Ranch
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Landing: Approach
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 38.0861° N, 120.7586° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.0861&lon=-120.7586&mi=10
- Aircraft: N54873, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N54873-2018-12-06) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cessna 172P (registry code 2072436, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172p) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming 0-320 series (registry code 41508, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172P
- Reported engine: LYCOMING 0-320 SERIES
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 2
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot, flight instructor
- Pilot flight hours: 12,700 total, 2,500 in this make and model, 75 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR18CA048](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR18CA048) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20171214024349A

## Narrative

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

N54973, C172P, AIRCRAFT CLIPPED A TREE AND CRASHED NEAR END OF THE RUNWAY ON A PRIVATE DIRT STRIP, 12/14/17 @ 1400 PST...2 POB

ACCIDENT ON THE PROPERTY OF ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^, VALLEY SPRINGS, CA.

## 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 WPR18CA048](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR18CA048), Dec 14, 2017: Cessna 172P (N54873), Valley Springs, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from trees while maneuvering for landing and his decision to land on a surface with obstructions.

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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