Cessna 172N accident near Northwood, Ohio, June 1, 1990
On June 1, 1990, a Cessna 172N, registered N737KL, was substantially damaged in an accident near Northwood, Ohio. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S IMPROPER IN-FLIGHT PLANNING/DECISION, WHICH RESULTED IN AN OFF-AIRPORT LANDING, WHEN THE ENGINE LOST POWER DUE TO FUEL EXHAUSTION. THE FACT THAT THE ENGINE LOST POWER OVER A POPULATED AREA WAS A FACTOR IN THIS ACCIDENT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 1, 1990
- Place
- Northwood, Ohio · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172N · all 172Ns on the register
- Registration
- N737KL · no longer on the register · serial 17269476
- 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 WITHIN ABOUT 5 MILES OF HIS DESTINATION AIRPORT, FLYING OVER A RESIDENTIAL AREA, WHEN THE ENGINE LOST POWER COMPLETELY. HE MADE A FORCED LANDING IN A SMALL FIELD, TOUCHING DOWN NOSE FIRST, AND THE AIRCRAFT NOSED OVER. POST-ACCIDENT EXAMINATION REVEALED NO EVIDENCE OF USABLE FUEL IN THE FUEL SYSTEM. THERE WAS NO INDICATION OF FUEL LEAKAGE/SPILLAGE AT THE ACCIDENT SITE, AND THE ENGINE APPEARED TO BE CAPABLE OF 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
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 108 hours in all; 36 in this make and model; 14 in the last 90 days; 13 in the last 30 days; 61 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,898 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 4, 1989; 58 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-H2AD (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: CIU Sault Ste Marie MI at 10:09 pm
- Destination: TDZ Toledo OH
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 200° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 43°F (6°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.