Cessna 172G accident near Griffith, Indiana, April 10, 1991
On April 10, 1991 at about 8:00 pm local time, a Cessna 172G, registered N1375F, was substantially damaged in an accident near Griffith, Indiana (Griffith airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
CONTAMINATED FUEL IN THE CARBURETOR, AND INADEQUATE INSPECTION/MAINTENANCE OF THE AIRPLANE BY THE PILOT IN COMMAND.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 10, 1991 · about 8:00 pm local time
- Place
- Griffith, Indiana · Griffith · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172G · all 172Gs on the register
- Registration
- N1375F · registry record · serial 54870
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH TREES FOLLOWING A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF. POST ACCIDENT INSPECTION OF THE ENGINE REVEALED THAT THE CARBURETOR WAS SUFFICIENTLY CONTAMINATED WITH PARTICULATES TO PRECLUDE NORMAL OPERATION. THE AIRPLANE'S LAST ANNUAL INSPECTION WAS PERFORMED BY THE PILOT,WHO IS ALSO A LICENSED AIRCRAFT MECHANIC, 15 SERVICE HOURS PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT FLIGHT.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 945 hours in all; 380 in this make and model; 945 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,458 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 28, 1990; 15 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-300-D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: VP1 Valparaizo IN
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 8, 4,013 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 045° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number CHI91LA129.