Cessna 172 accident near Maryville, Kentucky, September 26, 1990
On September 26, 1990 at about 2:30 pm local time, a Cessna 172, registered N96839, was substantially damaged in an accident near Maryville, Kentucky. It was a ferry 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 A HYDRAULIC BRAKE LINE WHICH RESULTED IN A LOSS OF FLUID, AND AN INOPERATIVE BRAKE SYSTEM DURING LANDING ROLL.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 26, 1990 · about 2:30 pm local time
- Place
- Maryville, Kentucky · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172 · all 172s on the register
- Registration
- N96839 · registry record · serial 17276122
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Ferry flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT REPORTED THAT DURING THE PRELFIGHT, THE LEFT BRAKE WAS 'WEAK.' THE FLUID LEVEL IN THE LEFT BRAKE HYDRAULIC FLUID RESERVOIR WAS LOW AND IT WAS REFILLED. THE BRAKE OPERATED SATISFACTORILY. THE PILOT FLEW THE AIRCRAFT TO KY07 TO FURTHER INSPECT THE BRAKE. DURING THE LANDING, THE PILOT EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF PRESSURE IN THE LEFT BRAKE. THE PILOT GROUND LOOPED THE AIRCRAFT BY APPLYING RIGHT BRAKE. THE AIRCRAFT WENT OFF THE SIDE OF THE RUNWAY, STRUCK A FENCE AND WENT INTO A DITCH. EXAMINATION OF THE AIRCRAFT REVEALED THE LEFT BRAKE LINE WAS WORN THROUGH FROM CHAFING AGAINST A SCREW WHICH SECURES THE STRUT FAIRING.
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
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, August 26, 1990; 32 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,400 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: LOU Louisville KY at 2:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27, 1,500 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, the folder of records gathered during the investigation, shown as the NTSB released them (the NTSB redacts some personal details first) and listed under the NTSB's own titles. This site's own text never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number BFO90LA080.