Cessna 172F accident near Huntington, Indiana, September 21, 1990
On September 21, 1990 at about 1:08 am local time, a Cessna 172F, registered N8259U, was destroyed in an accident near Huntington, Indiana (Huntington Municipal Arpt airport). It was an instructional 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 STUDENT PILOT'S IMPROPER PREFLIGHT PLANNING ENSURING SUFFICIENT FUEL FOR THE INTENDED FLIGHT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 21, 1990 · about 1:08 am local time
- Place
- Huntington, Indiana · Huntington Municipal Arpt · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172F · all 172Fs on the register
- Registration
- N8259U · no longer on the register · serial 17252159
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE AIRPLANE WAS HIGH ON FINAL APPROACH WHEN THE PILOT ELECTED TO GO AROUND. DURING THE GO AROUND PROCEDURE THE AIRPLANES POWERPLANT QUIT. THE PILOT ATTEMPTED A 180 DEGREE TURN IN ORDER TO LAND ON THE OPPOSITE RUNWAY. THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH THE GROUND DURING THIS MANEUVER. THE ON SCENE INVESTIGATION REVEALED APPROXIMATELY ONE GALLON OF FUEL REMAINING IN THE AIRPLANES FUEL TANKS.
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: student
- Flight time: 26 hours in all; 26 in this make and model; 26 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-300-D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: BMI Bloomington IL at 10:45 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0, 3,700 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night, bright
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°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.