Cessna 172N accident near Hannibal, Missouri, May 11, 1998
On May 11, 1998 at about 9:30 pm local time, a Cessna 172N, registered N733HY, was substantially damaged in an accident near Hannibal, Missouri (Hannibal Municipal airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
a loss of engine power due to undetermined reasons. A factor was the rough field in which the forced landing was made.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 11, 1998 · about 9:30 pm local time
- Place
- Hannibal, Missouri · Hannibal Municipal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172N · all 172Ns on the register
- Registration
- N733HY · no longer on the register · serial 17268318
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The student pilot reported that during takeoff, at an altitude of 200-300 feet agl, the engine lost power. He applied carburetor heat and that 'seemed to help a little for 30-45 seconds.' He then turned off the carburetor heat at which time, according to the pilot, the engine rpm didn't change much. Shortly thereafter the engine lost all power and the propeller stopped. A forced landing was made in a plowed field during which time the airplane was substantially damaged. Post accident inspection failed to determine the cause of the power loss.
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: student
- Flight time: 42 hours in all; 40 in this make and model; 18 in the last 90 days; 6 in the last 30 days; 17 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, December 19, 1997
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: HAE
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 17, 3,900 ft by 74 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 170° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 46°F (8°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:50 pm from UIN, 20 miles away
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.