The U.S. aircraft register, updated daily
Accidents · NTSB ATL92LA136 · Final report

Cessna 172P accident near Auburn, Alabama, July 11, 1992

On July 11, 1992 at about 2:23 pm local time, a Cessna 172P, registered N9768T, was substantially damaged in an accident near Auburn, Alabama (Auburn-Opelika airport). It was an instructional 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 FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT AS A RESULT OF HIS LACK OF TOTAL EXPERIENCE.

Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 12, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.

What the record shows

Date
July 11, 1992 · about 2:23 pm local time · cases in 1992
Place
Auburn, Alabama · Auburn-Opelika · cases near this airport · map
Type
Accident
Injuries
No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
Weather
visual conditions (good weather)
Aircraft
Cessna 172P · all 172Ps on the register
Registration
N9768T · no longer on the register · serial 17276221
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)

The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record

THE STUDENT PILOT STATED THAT HE WAS RUSHED BY ANOTHER AIRCRAFT ON APPROACH TO THE RUNWAY, AND LOST DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT. HE SAID THE AIRCRAFT WAS FLYING IN GROUND EFFECT UNTIL IT STRUCK A FENCE ON THE SIDE OF THE RUNWAY.

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: student
  • Flight time: 27 hours in all; 27 in this make and model; 25 in the last 90 days; 8 in the last 30 days; 3 as pilot in command
  • Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
  • Seat: left

The aircraft

  • Airframe total time: 5,242 hours
  • Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, June 29, 1992; 41 hours since
  • Maximum gross weight: 2,400 lb
  • Seats: 4
  • Landing gear: fixed
  • Engine: Lycoming O-320-D2J (piston); 0 hours total
  • Operator: Auburn University

The flight

  • Departed from: AUO at 2:15 pm
  • Destination: AUO
  • Runway 36, 4,000 ft by 100 ft

Weather at the time

  • Light: daylight
  • Wind: from 350° at 5 knots
  • Visibility: 10 statute miles
  • Sky: clear
  • Temperature: 86°F (30°C), dew point 66°F (19°C)
  • Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
  • Observation at 2:15 pm from AUO, 1 miles away

Injuries

FatalSeriousMinorNone
Crew1

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.

Connections how this case links to the rest of the register

Aircraft
Place
Analytics

The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/ATL92LA136.json.

The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.

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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.