Cessna 172H accident near Huntsville, Alabama, June 27, 1992
On June 27, 1992 at about 3:30 pm local time, a Cessna 172H, registered N8198L, was substantially damaged in an accident near Huntsville, Alabama (Bonnie Field). It was a personal 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
THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE COMPENSATION FOR THE WIND CONDITIONS AT THE AIRSTRIP, AND THE EXCESSIVE AIRSPEED ON FINAL APPROACH. A FACTOR WAS THE PREVAILING TAILWIND AT THE AIRSTRIP.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 27, 1992 · about 3:30 pm local time
- Place
- Huntsville, Alabama · Bonnie Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172H · all 172Hs on the register
- Registration
- N8198L · no longer on the register · serial 17256398
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PRIVATE PILOT WAS RETURNING TO HIS SHORT (1200 FEET), PRIVATE, GRASS AIRSTRIP. HE DID NOT TAKE INTO ACCOUNT A TAILWIND OF ABOUT 10 KNOTS; HE ALSO FLEW THE FINAL APPROACH ABOUT 5 KNOTS FASTER THAN NORMAL. AFTER TOUCHDOWN, HE WAS NOT ABLE TO BRING THE AIRCRAFT TO A STOP IN THE REMAINING RUNWAY. THE AIRCRAFT COLLIDED WITH PERIMETER TREES, RESULTING IN STRUCTURAL DAMAGE TO THE AIRFRAME. THE PILOT REPORTED NO MECHANICAL PROBLEMS WITH THE AIRCRAFT DURING THE ACCIDENT FLIGHT.
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: 430 hours in all; 250 in this make and model; 49 in the last 90 days; 20 in the last 30 days; 354 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,085 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 19, 1991; 63 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-300D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: HSV Huntsville AL at 3:15 pm
- Destination: NONE Huntsville AL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 1,200 ft by 250 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 330° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 3,500 ft
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 63°F (17°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:51 pm from HSV, 8 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.