Cessna C172N accident near North Liberty, Indiana, April 4, 1991
On April 4, 1991, a Cessna C172N, registered N737VP, was substantially damaged in an accident near North Liberty, Indiana. 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 PILOT'S INADVERTENT TOUCHDOWN AND INADEQUATE REMEDIAL ACTION. RELATED FACTORS ARE THE LOW PASS MANEUVER, AND THE SOFT TERRAIN.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 4, 1991
- Place
- North Liberty, Indiana · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna C172N
- Registration
- N737VP · no longer on the register · serial 17269711
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT WAS OPERATING THE AIRCRAFT LOW OVER HIS PROPERTY, WITH THE AIRPLANE SET UP IN THE LANDING CONFIGURATION. HE STATED THAT HE APPLIED FULL POWER TO ARREST THE AIRPLANE'S DESCENT, BUT THE AIRPLANE CONTINUED TO SETTLE TO THE SOFT, MUDDY GROUND. THE PILOT CONTINUED TO ATTEMPT TO ABORT THE LANDING, BUT THE AIRPLANE STRUCK A DITCH AND CAME TO A STOP. A POST ACCIDENT ENGINE RUN UP INDICATED THE ENGINE WAS 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: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea
- Flight time: 498 hours in all; 2 in this make and model; 5 in the last 90 days; 1 in the last 30 days; 265 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,150 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-H2AD (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Plymouth Avaition, INC.
The flight
- Departed from: C65 Plymouth IN at 11:00 pm
- Destination: C65 Plymouth IN
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 9 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 10,000 ft
- Temperature: 68°F (20°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.