Cessna 172RG accident near Miamisburg, Ohio, April 10, 1989
On April 10, 1989 at about 2:30 pm local time, a Cessna 172RG, registered N9688B, was substantially damaged in an accident near Miamisburg, Ohio (Dayton General Arpt South airport). It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
INTERMITTANT GROUNDING OF AN ELECTRICAL WIRE TO THE NOSE LANDING GEAR. THE CHAFED WIRE RESULTED IN THE OPENING OF THE LANDING GEAR MOTOR CIRCUIT BREAKER PREVENTING FULL EXTENSION OF THE LEFT MAIN LANDING GEAR. A SECONDARY FAILURE OF THE THROTTLE WARNING SWITCH PRECLUDED A VISUAL OR AURAL WARNING OF THE UNSAFE GEAR POSITION.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 10, 1989 · about 2:30 pm local time
- Place
- Miamisburg, Ohio · Dayton General Arpt South · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172RG · all 172RGs on the register
- Registration
- N9688B · no longer on the register · serial 0969
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
FOLLOWING IFR FLIGHT PIC LANDED AT UNCONTROLLED FIELD. ON LANDING ROLL LEFT MAIN GEAR COLLAPSED. SUBSEQUENT EXAM OF ACFT REVEALED A CHAFED WIRE FOR NOSE GEAR MICRO SWITCH GROUNDED AGAINST AIRFRAME. RESULTED IN GEAR MOTOR CB OPENING & STOPPING GEAR EXTENSION PRIOR TO FULL EXTENSION OF LEFT MAIN GEAR. ALSO, INTERNAL FAILURE OF THROTTLE WARNING SWITCH DID NOT PROVIDE AN UNSAFE GEAR VISUAL OR AURAL WARNING.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 670 hours in all; 235 in this make and model; 12 in the last 90 days; 8 in the last 30 days; 580 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,765 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 6, 1989; 20 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,650 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-F1A6 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: TOL Toledo OH at 2:25 pm
- Destination: MGY
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 2, 5,000 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 010° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 4,000 ft
- Temperature: 28°F (-2°C), dew point 12°F (-11°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:50 pm from DAY, 15 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.