Cessna 172 accident near Liberty, Missouri, June 12, 1992
On June 12, 1992 at about 4:30 pm local time, a Cessna 172, registered N5533A, was substantially damaged in an accident near Liberty, Missouri (Liberty 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 PILOT-IN-COMMANDS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN AIRCRAFT CONTROL. RELATED FACTORS ARE THE PILOT'S LACK OF TOTAL EXPERIENCE AND IMPROPER RECOVERY FROM A BOUNCED LANDING.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 12, 1992 · about 4:30 pm local time
- Place
- Liberty, Missouri · Liberty · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172 · all 172s on the register
- Registration
- N5533A · no longer on the register · serial 17249305
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE SOLO STUDENT PILOT RETURNED FROM A LOCAL TRAINING FLIGHT, AND WAS PRACTICING TAKEOFFS AND LANDINGS AT THE HOME BASE AIRPORT. HE STATED '...WHEN I TOUCHED DOWN I WAS TO (SIC) FAST AND BOUNCED THE AIRCRAFT, THE NOSE CAME UP AND THE STALL WARNING HORN CAME ON. I APPLIED FULL POWER BUT EVIDENTLY DID NOT LOWER THE NOSE AND THE AIRCRAFT STALLED....' THE AIRPLANE IMPACTED THE GROUND LEFT WING FIRST AND SPUN AROUND, COMING TO A STOP ABOUT 50 FEET FROM THE EDGE OF THE ACTIVE RUNWAY. THE STUDENT PILOT REPORTED ABOUT 27 HOURS TOTAL FLIGHT EXPERIENCE.
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: 27 hours in all; 27 in this make and model; 27 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,732 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 9, 1992; 52 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,250 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-300-D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 36, 2,800 ft by 20 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 090° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
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.