Cessna 172H accident near Moscow Mills, Missouri, June 10, 2012
On June 10, 2012 at about 3:30 pm local time, a Cessna 172H, registered N3736R, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff (rejected takeoff) near Moscow Mills, Missouri (Greensfield Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain control of the airplane during takeoff in a gusty crosswind, which resulted in a runway excursion.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 10, 2012 · about 3:30 pm local time
- Place
- Moscow Mills, Missouri · Greensfield Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172H · all 172Hs on the register
- Registration
- N3736R · no longer on the register · serial 17255536
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that she took off on runway 27 with the wind from 180 degrees at 13 knots gusting to 23 knots. When the airplane was about 5 to 10 feet above the runway, the airplane encountered a strong gust of wind, and the airplane drifted left of centerline and descended back onto the runway. The pilot steered the airplane back to the centerline and attempted to abort the takeoff by applying full brakes and pulling the throttle back to idle. The airplane went off the end of the 3,227 foot long runway onto wet grass and continued down an embankment, across a road, and into a steep ditch. The airplane’s firewall sustained substantial damage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation.
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
- Other weather encounter during takeoff (rejected takeoff)
- Loss of lift during takeoff (rejected takeoff)
- Runway excursion during takeoff (rejected takeoff) defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during takeoff (rejected takeoff)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- factor Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Crosswind › Effect on operation
- factor Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Gusts › Effect on operation
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Terrain › Wet/muddy › Effect on operation
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Terrain › Sloped/uneven › Effect on operation
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 93 hours in all; 89 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Cont Motor 0-300 SER (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: M71 Moscow Mills MO
- Destination: M71 Moscow Mills MO
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27, 3,227 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 13 knots, gusting 23
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Temperature: 162°F (72°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
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.