Cessna 172N accident near Rogersville, Tennessee, November 3, 1988
On November 3, 1988 at about 1:30 pm local time, a Cessna 172N, registered N734ZM, was substantially damaged in an accident near Rogersville, Tennessee (Hawkins County airport). It was a ferry flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 3, 1988 · about 1:30 pm local time
- Place
- Rogersville, Tennessee · Hawkins County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172N · all 172Ns on the register
- Registration
- N734ZM · no longer on the register · serial 17269245
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Ferry flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT REPORTED THAT HE WAS FERRYING THE AIRPLANE TO OBTAIN SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE. UPON ARRIVAL OVER THE ARPT, HE FOUND THAT THE ONLY RWY WAS CLOSED FOR MAINTENANCE. HE THEN ELECTED TO LAND ON A TAXIWAY. HE MADE A SHORT-FIELD LDG AND APPLIED THE BRAKES 'FIRMLY' AFTER TOUCHDOWN. BOTH TIRES BLEW OUT DURING THE LDG ROLL, AND HE LOST CONTROL OF THE ACFT. THE ACFT COLLIDED W/ A PARKED TRUCK AND A FENCE. EXAM OF THE ACFT TIRES REVEALED THAT THEY HAD BLOWN OUT AS A RESULT OF EXCESSIVE BRAKING. THE DISTANCE FROM THE TAXIWAY ENTRANCE AT THE RWY EDGE TO THE TRUCK WAS APPROXIMATELY 500 FT. SEVERAL HANGARS & OTHER OBSTACLES WERE LOCATED OFF THE END OF THE TAXIWAY ALONG THE ACFT'S INITIAL DIRECTION OF TRAVEL. EXAM OF A CESSNA 172N INFO MANUAL REVEALED THAT ABOUT 500 FT WAS REQUIRED FOR THE LDG ROLL GIVEN THE CONDITIONS REPORTED BY THE PLT. A NOTAM (D) WHICH ADVISED OF THE CLOSED RWY WAS ISSUED 2 DAYS EARLIER, AND WAS IN EFFECT AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT.
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: 528 hours in all; 199 in this make and model; 65 in the last 90 days; 474 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,046 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, October 3, 1988; 96 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-H2AD (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Tri-City Aviation
The flight
- Departed from: Bristol TN
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Temperature: 32°F (0°C), dew point 30°F (-1°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.