Cessna 172 accident near Hutchinson, Minnesota, April 26, 1995
On April 26, 1995, a Cessna 172, registered N4183G, was substantially damaged in an accident near Hutchinson, Minnesota (Hutchinson Municipal airport). It was a public-use 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 inadequate compensation for the wind conditions. Factors associated with the accident were the crosswind and soft terrain.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 26, 1995
- Place
- Hutchinson, Minnesota · Hutchinson Municipal · map
- 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
- N4183G · registry record · serial 17273361
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Public-use flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
PRIOR TO THE PILOT'S DEPARTURE, THE WINDS WERE REPORTED TO BE 040 DEGREES AT 11 KNOTS. THE PILOT BELIEVED THAT THE WIND WOULD SUBSIDE AS IT TYPICALLY DID IN THE EVENING FOR HIS RETURN BACK TO HIS DEPARTURE AIRPORT. UPON RETURN TO THE AIRPORT, THE PILOT CRABBED THE AIRPLANE INTO THE WIND TO COMPENSATE FOR THE CROSSWIND. APPROXIMATELY 100 FEET ABOVE THE RUNWAY, THE PILOT REMOVED THE CRAB CORRECTION AND THE AIRPLANE DRIFTED TO THE LEFT. AS THE AIRPLANE TOUCHED DOWN ON THE RUNWAY, LEFT OF THE CENTERLINE, IT BALLOONED AND EXITED THE SIDE OF THE RUNWAY. THE AIRPLANE'S NOSE WHEEL DUG INTO THE SOFT GROUND AND THE AIRPLANE NOSED OVER.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 903 hours in all; 250 in this make and model; 5 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days; 750 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,275 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 17, 1995; 24 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: HCD at 11:50 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 33, 4,000 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Wind: from 040° at 19 knots, gusting 33
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 7,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 52°F (11°C), dew point 34°F (1°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.
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.