Cessna 172H accident near Plattsburg, Missouri, September 16, 1999
On September 16, 1999 at about 11:15 pm local time, a Cessna 172H, registered N1406F, was destroyed in an accident near Plattsburg, Missouri (Plattsburg Airpark airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 3 people were killed and 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilot's failure to maintain airspeed during the initial climb. A factor relating to this accident was the inadvertent stall/spin.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 16, 1999 · about 11:15 pm local time
- Place
- Plattsburg, Missouri · Plattsburg Airpark · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people were killed and 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172H · all 172Hs on the register
- Registration
- N1406F · no longer on the register · serial 17254901
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
Two witnesses at the Plattsburg Air Park saw the airplane taxi to the end of runway 18 and perform an engine run-up. The witnesses said that during the takeoff roll the airplane had good acceleration and sounded good. One witness said that the airplane looked as if 10 degrees of flaps were extended. Neither witness saw the airplane lift off. The two witnesses took off from Plattsburg Airport approximately 20 minutes after they saw N1406F on its takeoff roll. They flew to Cameron, Missouri, and back to Plattsburg. They estimated that the flight took 45 minutes. On approach from the south into the Plattsburg Air Park, the witnesses saw the airplane in a low-lying area, 1/4 mile south of the runway. Examination of the airplane revealed no anomalies. An examination of the airplane's instrument panel revealed the engine primer unlocked and extended approximately 1/4 inch. Examination of the engine and remaining airplane systems revealed no anomalies.
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: 170 hours in all; 169 in this make and model; 23 in the last 90 days; 11 in the last 30 days; 116 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,846 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 30, 1999; 6 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-300-D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MO28 at 11:15 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 2,100 ft by 20 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 080° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:53 pm from MCI, 208 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 | 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.