Cessna 172 accident near Oberlin, Kansas, July 30, 1991
On July 30, 1991 at about 11:50 pm local time, a Cessna 172, registered N7113A, was substantially damaged in an accident near Oberlin, Kansas (Oberlin Municipal airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE STUDENT PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL DURING LANDING. FACTORS IN THE ACCIDENT WERE THE PILOT'S DISCONTINUING HIS CROSSWIND COMPENSATION AND HIS LACK OF EXPERIENCE IN THE TYPE OF OPERATION.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 30, 1991 · about 11:50 pm local time
- Place
- Oberlin, Kansas · Oberlin Municipal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172 · all 172s on the register
- Registration
- N7113A · registry record · serial 29213
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
A SOLO STUDENT PILOT FLEW TO A NEARBY FIELD FOR A FULL STOP LANDING. THE PILOT COMPENSATED FOR A RIGHT CROSSWIND ON FINAL WITH WING DOWN INTO THE WIND. NEARING THE FLARE, THE PILOT LEVELED THE WINGS FOR THE ROUNDOUT AND TOUCHDOWN. THE AIRPLANE LANDED IN A LEFT DRIFT, WITH THE LEFT WHEEL OFF THE RUNWAY. THE PILOT STATED HE COULD NOT GET THE WHEEL BACK ON THE RUNWAY AND ALLOWED THE AIRPLANE TO ROLL ONTO THE GRASS. THE NOSEWHEEL ENTERED A DITCH, THE NOSE GEAR COLLAPSED AND THE AIRPLANE NOSED 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: student
- Flight time: 25 hours in all; 25 in this make and model; 5 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days; 8 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, June 1, 1991; 7 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,075 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-300-A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MCK Mccook NE
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 17, 3,792 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 330° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 10,000 ft
- Temperature: 100°F (38°C), dew point 61°F (16°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:48 pm from MCK, 18 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.