Cessna 172 accident near North Liberty, Indiana, May 22, 1988
On May 22, 1988 at about 5:30 pm local time, a Cessna 172, registered N5848A, was substantially damaged in an accident near North Liberty, Indiana (Private Strip 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 NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 22, 1988 · about 5:30 pm local time
- Place
- North Liberty, Indiana · Private Strip · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172 · all 172s on the register
- Registration
- N5848A · registry record · serial 28448
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE DEPARTING FROM A GRASS STRIP THE PILOT WAS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN A SUFFICIENT RATE OF CLIMB AND AIRSPEED DURING THE CLIMBOUT. IN AN EFFORT TO REGAIN AIRSPEED, THE PILOT STATED THAT HE PUSHED THE NOSE FORWARD AND THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK THE GROUND IN A NOSE DOWN ATTITUDE. THE AIRCRAFT COLLIDED WITH THE FIELD PERPENDICULAR TO THE FURROWS, BREAKING THE NOSEWHEEL OFF AND FLIPPING THE AIRCRAFT OVER.
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
- Flight time: 78 hours in all; 68 in this make and model; 6 in the last 90 days; 1 in the last 30 days; 43 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rear
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,798 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 18, 1987; 77 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,200 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-300-A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: 3C1 Elkhart IN
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27, 1,300 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 070° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: ovct at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:49 pm from SBN, 12 miles away
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.