Cessna 172 accident near Ogallala, Nebraska, April 7, 1990
On April 7, 1990 at about 5:30 pm local time, a Cessna 172, registered N64739, was substantially damaged in an accident near Ogallala, Nebraska (Searle airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE MISJUDGED LANDING FLARE. A FACTOR WAS THE PILOT'S LACK OF EXPERIENCE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 7, 1990 · about 5:30 pm local time
- Place
- Ogallala, Nebraska · Searle · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172 · all 172s on the register
- Registration
- N64739 · registry record · serial 17275616
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE STUDENT PILOT WAS LANDING AT A FUEL STOP DURING A SOLO CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT. HE SAID THAT THE PLANE FELL THE LAST FIVE FEET TO THE RUNWAY, RESULTING IN A HARD LANDING. HE VISUALLY INSPECTED THE PLANE, FOUND NO APPARENT DAMAGE, REFUELED AND FLEW BACK TO HIS HOME BASE. A POSTFLIGHT INSPECTION BY THE OPERATOR REVEALED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE; THE FIREWALL AND PROPELLER WERE BENT.
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: 50 hours in all; 50 in this make and model; 14 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days; 15 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,407 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-D2J (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: A1A Alliance NE at 4:35 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 31, 3,700 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 330° at 17 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.