# NTSB LAX91LA060: Cessna 172N, N5258D, Yucca Valley, CA, December 26, 1990

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: December 26, 1990, 13:50 local (21:50 UTC)
- Place: Yucca Valley, CA
- Coordinates: 34.149406, -116.410942 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.1494&lon=-116.4109&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 2 minor
- Status: Completed, report December 30, 1992
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 27081
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX91LA060
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/27081/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX91LA060

## Probable cause

THE PILOT'S IMPROPER USE OF THE FLAPS. CONTRIBUTING TO THIS ACCIDENT WAS THE LOSS OF CONTROL DURING TAILWIND LANDING, AND HIS TAILWIND AND THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE INFLIGHT PLANNING.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of control - in flight, go-around (vfr)
  - weather condition - tailwind (contributing factor)
  - raising of flaps - improper use of, pilot in command (cause)
  - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
- Hard landing, descent - uncontrolled
- Nose over, landing - roll
  - landing gear,nose gear - overload

## Analysis

THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO CONTACT THE UNICOM ON THE CTAF FOR AN AIRPORT TRAFFIC ADVISORY BUT TO NO AVAIL. THE PILOT THEN ASSUMED THAT THE LANDING RUNWAY WAS 24 AND HE SET UP AN APPROACH ACCORDINGLY. THE ACTIVE RUNWAY HOWEVER WAS 06, AND THE SURFACE WINDS WERE 030 DEGREES AT 15 KNOTS. AFTER PASSING OVER THE THRESHOLD THE AIRPLANE'S STALL WARNING HORN SOUNDED. THE PILOT ELECTED TO GO-AROUND AND INADVERTENTLY FULLY RETRACTED THE FLAPS. REALIZING HIS MISTAKE THE PILOT LOWERED THE FLAPS, BUT THE AIRPLANE STALLED, SUSTAINED A HARD LANDING ON THE NOSE GEAR AND NOSED OVER ONTO ITS BACK.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N5258D](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5258D-1993-04-01), registration cancelled 1993-04-01, S/N 17272476 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172N
- Registry model: [Cessna 172N](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172n) (registry code 2072434) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 172N
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-H2AD 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Cableair
- Departed: L80, JOSHUA TREE, CA
- Airport: L22, Yucca Valley, runway 24, 3,686 × 90 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 24; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; flight hours: 77 total, 44 in this make and model, 35 as pilot in command, 41 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 0° at 15 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Temperature: 70 °F, dew point -0 °F

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19901226056149A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19901226056149A), Dec 26, 1990: Cessna 172N, Yucca Valley, CA, Substantial damage. Tried to land downwind then elected go around,dumped flaps by mistake. Put back down,stalled,impacted. Flipped over

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.

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