Cessna 172P accident near Mooresville, North Carolina, January 24, 1989
On January 24, 1989 at about 11:39 pm local time, a Cessna 172P, registered N98990, was substantially damaged in an accident near Mooresville, North Carolina (Miller, Nc airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN AIRSPEED ON FINAL APPROACH TO LAND, WHICH RESULTED IN AN INADVERTENT STALL. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: CARBURETOR ICING CONDITIONS, NIGHT CONDITIONS, AND THE PILOT'S DECISION TO LAND AT AN UNLIGHTED RUNWAY.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 24, 1989 · about 11:39 pm local time
- Place
- Mooresville, North Carolina · Miller, Nc · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172P · all 172Ps on the register
- Registration
- N98990 · no longer on the register · serial 17276392
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT REPORTED THAT DURING FLIGHT, THE AIRCRAFT DEVELOPED CARBURETOR ICE. HE DECIDED TO MAKE A SHORT FIELD LANDING AT A NEARBY AIRPORT. SUBSEQUENTLY, WHILE MANEUVERING TO LAND, THE AIRCRAFT STALLED & IMPACTED THE GROUND. IT CAME TO REST ABOUT 30 FT FROM THE IMPACT POINT.
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
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 206 hours in all; 49 in this make and model; 17 in the last 90 days; 9 in the last 30 days; 173 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,506 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 1, 1988; 1,506 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,400 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-D2J (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SVH Statesville NC at 5:45 am
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 2,060 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 140° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 25,000 ft; scat at 12,000 ft
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:54 pm from HKY, 40 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
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.