Cessna 172N accident near Carrollton, Texas, January 16, 1983
On January 16, 1983 at about 7:50 pm local time, a Cessna 172N, registered N737VQ, was substantially damaged in an accident near Carrollton, Texas (Addison airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured; 2 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 16, 1983 · about 7:50 pm local time
- Place
- Carrollton, Texas · Addison · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured; 2 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172N · all 172Ns on the register
- Registration
- N737VQ · no longer on the register · serial 17269712
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT REPORTED THAT DURING ARRIVAL, HE ENTERED THE DOWNWIND WITH NO PROBLEM; HOWEVER, WHEN HE ATTEMPTED TO TURN ON A LEFT BASE, THE AILERON CONTROL LOCKED UP. HE STATED HE COULD TURN NEITHER LEFT NOR RIGHT BY USING AILERONS. REPORTEDLY, THE ACFT WOULD BANK TO THE RIGHT WHEN HE USED LEFT RUDDER & VICE VERSA. THE PLT DECLARED AN EMERGENCY. AFTER CONTINUING WESTERLY APRX 6 MI, HE REDUCED POWER & LANDED IN A WHEAT FLD. DURING HE LANDING ROLL, THE NOSE GEAR HIT A DITCH & COLLAPSED AND THE ACFT NOSED OVER. AN EXAM OF THE FLT CONTROLS FAILED TO DISCLOSE ANY PREIMPACT FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION. A CHECK OF THE AUTO-PILOT REVEALED THAT THE CONTROL SERVO, PN 1C-465-1-732, WAS COVERED WITH AN OILY APPEARING SUBSTANCE THAT WAS STICKY, AND WOULD NOT SLIP UNTIL WELL ABOVE THE SPECIFIED 42 LBS OF CABLE TENSION. NO OTHER PREIMPACT MALFUNCTIONS OR FAILURES OF THE ACFT WERE FOUND. THE RELATIVELY INEXPERIENCED PLT DID NOT REMEMBER ENGAGING THE AUTO-PILOT.
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: 72 hours in all; 62 in this make and model; 7 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days; 44 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 647 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 31, 1982; 14 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-H2AD (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Tejas Aviation, INC.
The flight
- Departed from: ADS Addison TX
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 190° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 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.