Cessna 172 accident near Redfield, South Dakota, May 3, 2002
On May 3, 2002 at about 6:00 pm local time, a Cessna 172, registered N6422E, was substantially damaged in an accident near Redfield, South Dakota (Redfield Municipal Airport). It was a personal 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 while taxing to takeoff in high and gusty wind conditions.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 3, 2002 · about 6:00 pm local time
- Place
- Redfield, South Dakota · Redfield Municipal Airport · 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
- N6422E · no longer on the register · serial 46522
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
When taxing for departure, the aircraft moved forward about 10 to 15 feet and cleared a hangar to the left side. At this point, the left wing began to lift, raising the left wheel off the ground and pushing the aircraft to the right. As the left wing continued to rise, propeller striking occurred and the aircraft nosed over. The pilot reported that the aircraft came to a rest upside down in the grass.
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
- Flight time: 204 hours in all; 156 in this make and model; 23 in the last 90 days; 15 in the last 30 days; 181 as pilot in command; 83 on instruments
- Last flight review: November 19, 2001
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 9,015 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 16, 2001; 70 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,200 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-300A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 1D8 Redfield SD
- Destination: Redfield SD
- Flight plan: IFR
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 240° at 18 knots, gusting 25
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°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.
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.