Cessna 172M accident near Gun Barrel City, Texas, March 8, 2008
On March 8, 2008 at about 11:15 pm local time, a Cessna 172M, registered N13246, was substantially damaged in an accident during maneuvering near Gun Barrel City, Texas. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was 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 avoid the transmission line. A contributing factor was the pilot's decision to perform a low-level maneuver.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 8, 2008 · about 11:15 pm local time
- Place
- Gun Barrel City, Texas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed and 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172M · all 172Ms on the register
- Registration
- N13246 · no longer on the register · serial 17262607
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The non-certificated pilot was attempting to "buzz" an acquaintance located in a park area by an elementary school. While maneuvering toward the field, the airplane's right wing contacted a transmission line. The pilot lost control of the airplane and impacted the ground. A post-accident investigation of the airplane and engine did not reveal any pre-impact anomalies. The toxicology report noted low levels of an inactive metabolite of marihuana in the blood and urine, implying only that the pilot had used marijuana in the previous days or weeks.
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
What happened, in order
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during maneuvering defining event
The NTSB's findings
- factor Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Wire › Not specified
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Altitude › Not attained/maintained
Pilot
- Flight time: 1,610 hours in all; 2 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: left
- Injury: fatal
Crew member
No details recorded.
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,459.7 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 1, 2007; 39.1 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: F44 Athens TX
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 110° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 52°F (11°C), dew point 25°F (-4°C)
- Altimeter: 30.06 inHg
- Observation at 11:53 pm from KCRS, 22 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.