Cessna 172N accident near Towanda, Kansas, April 10, 1993
On April 10, 1993 at about 10:05 pm local time, a Cessna 172N, registered N6346E, was substantially damaged in an accident near Towanda, Kansas (Private airport). It was a personal 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 PILOT FAILED TO ADEQUATELY COMPENSATE FOR A GUSTY CROSSWIND CONDITION.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 10, 1993 · about 10:05 pm local time
- Place
- Towanda, Kansas · Private · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172N · all 172Ns on the register
- Registration
- N6346E · registry record · serial 46446
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING LANDING ROLL AT THE PILOT'S PRIVATE AIRSTRIP A GUST OF WIND CAUGHT THE AIRCRAFT RESULTING IN A LOSS OF CONTROL. THE LANDING GEAR COLLAPSED AND THE RIGHT WING TIP DUG INTO THE GROUND.
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: 252 hours in all; 252 in this make and model; 2 in the last 90 days; 1 in the last 30 days; 225 as pilot in command; 27 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,521 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 10, 1992; 21 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-300-A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: 71K Wichita KS
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 36, 2,100 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 320° at 10 knots, gusting 25
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 63°F (17°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.