Cessna 172D accident near Hillsboro, Ohio, April 2, 2010
On April 2, 2010 at about 3:37 am local time, a Cessna 172D, registered N2190Y, was destroyed in an accident during maneuvering near Hillsboro, Ohio (Highland County Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
Impact with the runway pavement for unknown reasons.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 2, 2010 · about 3:37 am local time
- Place
- Hillsboro, Ohio · Highland County Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172D · all 172Ds on the register
- Registration
- N2190Y · no longer on the register · serial 17249690
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
A witness located about 1/2 mile southeast of the accident site heard the sound of an airplane engine increasing in power followed by a crash. He estimated that this occurred within a few seconds and heard no sounds after the crash. The airplane wreckage was located the following morning at the departure airport, where the airplane had impacted the runway pavement about 100 feet from the threshold. A depression (crater) in the runway pavement was present at the impact point, and the pavement exhibited other impressions consistent with impact from the wings, propeller, and nose landing gear. The airplane was fragmented and the wings and empennage had separated from the fuselage. The main wreckage was located within 20 feet of the point of impact. The entire debris field was within approximately 75 feet of the impact point. Examination of the airframe and engine did not reveal any anomalies consistent with a preimpact failure or malfunction. The impressions in the runway pavement, the distribution of the wreckage, and the extensive damage to the airplane were consistent with a high-power, high-angle impact with the runway pavement.
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
What happened, in order
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during maneuvering defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 350 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,476 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 12, 2009
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Cont Motor O-300 SER (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: HOC Hillsboro OH
- Destination: HOC Hillsboro OH
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 23, 3,520 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night
- Wind: from 200° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 29.94 inHg
- Observation at 4:54 am from ILN, 19 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.