Cessna 172 accident near Springfield, Missouri, July 24, 1995
On July 24, 1995, a Cessna 172, registered N55212, was substantially damaged in an accident near Springfield, Missouri (Springfield Regional). 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 instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
improper in-flight planning/decision by the pilot, and his continued flight into adverse weather conditions, which resulted in an uncontrolled altitude deviation and collision with terrain. Factors relating to the accident were: the adverse weather conditions.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 24, 1995
- Place
- Springfield, Missouri · Springfield Regional · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172 · all 172s on the register
- Registration
- N55212 · no longer on the register · serial 22-9309
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT STATED THAT HE CALLED THE CONTROL TOWER AT HIS DESTINATION AIRPORT SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF. HE SAID THE TOWER CONTROLLER TOLD HIM THERE WAS WEATHER ABOUT 5 MILES WEST. THE PILOT SAID HE ASSUMED THIS WAS THE SAME WEATHER DESCRIBED TO HIM DURING AN EARLIER CONVERSATION WITH THE SAME TOWER. AS THE AIRPLANE APPROACHED THE RUNWAY FOR LANDING, THE PILOT WAS ADVISED OF A WIND SHIFT AND RUNWAY CHANGE. HE SAID THAT WHEN THE AIRPLANE WAS 300 TO 400 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND, THE WIND 'JOLTED' THE AIRPLANE, '...PUSHING IT DOWN SHARPLY... .' THE AIRPLANE ENCOUNTERED A SECOND AND THIRD DOWNDRAFT. THE THIRD DOWNDRAFT FORCED THE AIRPLANE ONTO THE GROUND NORTH OF THE RUNWAY. THE PILOT SAID THE RAIN AND WIND THAT FOLLOWED THE ACCIDENT WERE INTENSE. AT 1915 CDT, TOWER PERSONNEL REPORTED THUNDERSTORMS WITH HEAVY RAIN SHOWERS AND 3/4 MILE VISIBILITY.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land
- Flight time: 179 hours in all; 121 in this make and model; 90 in the last 90 days; 51 in the last 30 days; 112 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-D2J (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 2K2 Ozark MO at 11:00 pm
- Destination: SGF MO
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 32, 5,600 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 290° at 17 knots, gusting 40
- Visibility: 0.8 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
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.
Other NTSB records under N55212 the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.