Cessna 172 accident near Independence, Missouri, October 10, 1993
On October 10, 1993 at about 2:16 pm local time, a Cessna 172, registered N738LX, was substantially damaged in an accident near Independence, Missouri (Independence Memorial airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S MISJUDGMENT OF DISTANCE, ALTITUDE, AND SPEED ON FINAL APPROACH TO LAND, AND FAILURE TO MAINTAIN OBSTACLE CLEARANCE FROM THE VEHICLE. THE PROXIMITY OF THE VEHICLE TO THE APPROACH PATH WAS A RELATED FACTOR.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 10, 1993 · about 2:16 pm local time
- Place
- Independence, Missouri · Independence Memorial
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172 · all 172s on the register
- Registration
- N738LX · no longer on the register · serial 17270072
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AS THE AIRPLANE WAS ON FINAL APPROACH TO LAND ON RUNWAY 35, ITS LANDING GEAR STRUCK THE HOOD AND WINDSHIELD OF AN AUTOMOBILE. THE AUTOMOBILE WAS WESTBOUND ON A ROAD LOCATED ALONG THE SOUTH BOUNDARY OF THE AIRPORT. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THE STALL WARNING SOUNDED DURING SHORT FINAL. HE STATED HE DROPPED THE NOSE AND BELIEVED HE COULD REACH THE RUNWAY, WHEN SUDDENLY HE FELT AN IMPACT. THE PASSENGER IN THE CAR REPORTED SHE SAW THE AIRPLANE COMING IN '. . . VERY SLOW, VERY LOW AND FLUTTERING FROM SIDE TO SIDE . . .' AND SHE THOUGHT IT WOULD PASS OVERHEAD. THE PILOT STATED HE DID NOT SEE THE CAR BEFORE IMPACT.
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: 164 hours in all; 60 in this make and model; 16 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days; 102 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,306 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 7, 1993; 19 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-H2AD (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: K84 Lee'S Summit MO at 2:00 pm
- Destination: 3IP
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 35, 2,560 ft by 30 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 350° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 20,000 ft
- Temperature: 39°F (4°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:45 pm from MKC, 28 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.