Cessna 172 accident near Aberdeen, South Dakota, August 2, 1994
On August 2, 1994 at about 5:25 am local time, a Cessna 172, registered N35790, was substantially damaged in an accident near Aberdeen, South Dakota (Aberdeen Regional Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilot's failure to maintain directional control during landing. A related factor is the dark night conditions.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 2, 1994 · about 5:25 am local time
- Place
- Aberdeen, South Dakota · Aberdeen Regional Airport
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172 · all 172s on the register
- Registration
- N35790 · registry record · serial 17256963
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT STATED THE APPROACH TO LANDING LOOKED GOOD. WHEN THE AIRPLANE TOUCHED DOWN, IT SUDDENLY VEERED OFF THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY AND COLLIDED WITH A RUNWAY LIGHT. THE PILOT STATED HE APPLIED '...FULL LEFT AILERON AND FULL FLARE...' TO REGAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL. THE AIRPLANE VEERED BACK ONTO THE RUNWAY AND CAME TO REST IN THE MIDDLE OF THE RUNWAY WITH THE NOSEWHEEL COLLAPSED. THE PILOT STATED HE THOUGHT A TIRE HAD BLOWN. POSTACCIDENT INVESTIGATION REVEALED NO EVIDENCE OF A BLOW OUT OR ANY PREIMPACT MALFUNCTION. THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED AT 0025 LOCAL IN WHAT THE PILOT DESCRIBED AS DARK NIGHT LIGHT CONDITIONS.
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: 97 hours in all; 86 in this make and model; 57 in the last 90 days; 21 in the last 30 days; 57 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,811 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection; 33 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Albert Lea Aircraft, INC.
The flight
- Departed from: RAP Rapid City SD at 3:15 am
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 17, 3,863 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 100° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 66°F (19°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:50 am from ABR, 1 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.