Cessna 172 accident near Allentown, Pennsylvania, April 4, 1995
On April 4, 1995 at about 7:40 pm local time, a Cessna 172, registered N6114E, was substantially damaged in an accident near Allentown, Pennsylvania (Queen City airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilot's inadequate compensation for wind conditions. Related factors were the gusty wind conditions and the pilot's poor weather evaluation.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 4, 1995 · about 7:40 pm local time
- Place
- Allentown, Pennsylvania · Queen City · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172 · all 172s on the register
- Registration
- N6114E · no longer on the register · serial 46214
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT STATED THAT HE WAS COMPENSATING FOR THE WIND DURING TAXI OPERATIONS BY UTILIZING THE AIRPLANE'S FLIGHT CONTROLS. HE SAID THAT THE AIRPLANE NOSED OVER DUE TO A SUDDEN GUST OF WIND FROM THE SOUTH. AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT A NEARBY WEATHER OBSERVATION FACILITY REPORTED THE WIND TO BE COMING FROM 270 DEGREES AT A VELOCITY OF 32 KNOTS, GUSTING TO 39 KNOTS. PEAK GUSTS WERE REPORTED TO BE 45 KNOTS. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE OBTAINED A WEATHER BRIEFING PRIOR TO THE FLIGHT AND THOUGHT THE WEATHER '...WAS OK.'
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 1,568 hours in all; 1,368 in this make and model; 20 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days; 1,568 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,069 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 15, 1994; 83 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,200 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-300 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 1N9
- Destination: Pottstown PA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 32 knots, gusting 45
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 5,500 ft
- Temperature: 59°F (15°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:50 pm from ABE
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.