Cessna 172 accident near Aurora, Missouri, November 8, 1992
On November 8, 1992 at about 2:30 pm local time, a Cessna 172, registered N5889A, was destroyed in an accident near Aurora, Missouri. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 4 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S LACK OF FAMILIARITY WITH THE AIRPLANE, A SWITCHED OFF FUEL SELECTOR AND FUEL STARVATION.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 8, 1992 · about 2:30 pm local time
- Place
- Aurora, Missouri · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 4 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172 · all 172s on the register
- Registration
- N5889A · no longer on the register · serial 28489
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT OF THE ACCIDENT AIRPLANE RECEIVED HIS ORIGINAL CHECKOUT IN THE ACCIDENT AIRPLANE SIX MONTHS BEFORE RECEIVING A SECOND CHECKOUT LASTING ONE HOUR. ONE WEEK AFTER THE SECOND CHECKOUT FLIGHT THE PILOT DEPARTED ON A LOCAL FLIGHT. DURING INITIAL CLIMBOUT THE PILOT REPORTED THE ENGINE WAS RUNNING ROUGH. PUMPING THE THROTTLE, ACCORDING TO THE PILOT, ALLEVIATED THE PROBLEM MOMENTARILY. AS THE AIRPLANE ENTERED ONTO A DOWNWIND LEG, THE ENGINE BEGAN TO RUN ROUGH ONCE AGAIN. THE PILOT STATED HE APPLIED CARBURETOR HEAT AND BEGAN A TURN ONTO A BASE LEG FOR THE LANDING RUNWAY. THE PILOT STATED THE ENGINE QUIT AT THIS POINT. THE AIRPLANE MADE A HARD LANDING IN A CITY HORSE LOT, NOSING OVER AS IT CAME TO A STOP. THE ON SCENE INVESTIGATION REVEALED THE ENGINE WAS CAPABLE OF OPERATING. THE CARBURETOR FLOAT BOWL AND ACCELERATOR PUMP WELL WERE DEVOID OF FUEL. THE GASCOLATOR WAS FOUND CLEAN AND DEVOID OF FUEL. THE FUEL SELECTOR WAS FOUND IN THE 'OFF' POSITION BY THE INVESTIGATOR.
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
- Flight time: 43 hours in all; 2 in this make and model; 1 in the last 90 days; 19 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 8, 1992; 745 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,075 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-300D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 2H2
- Destination: 2H2
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 170° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 46°F (8°C), dew point 34°F (1°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:50 pm from SGF, 30 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
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.