Cessna 172N accident near Cuero, Texas, April 2, 1983
On April 2, 1983 at about 10:00 pm local time, a Cessna 172N, registered N734ZR, was destroyed in an accident near Cuero, Texas (Cuero airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 3 people were killed. 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
- April 2, 1983 · about 10:00 pm local time
- Place
- Cuero, Texas · Cuero · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172N · all 172Ns on the register
- Registration
- N734ZR · no longer on the register · serial 17269249
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE NON-RATED PLT HAD BEEN PREVIOUSLY EMPLOYED BY THE OPERATOR & KNEW WHERE THE KEYS OF THE ACFT HAD BEEN KEPT. HE HAD NO KNOWN FLIGHT TRAINING, BUT HAD PREVIOUSLY BEEN A PASSENGER IN THE ACFT ON AT LEAST ONE OCASION. HE TOOK THE ACFT WITHOUT PERMISSION, PRESUMABLY TO TAKE TWO FRIENDS ON A JOY RIDE. DURING THE TAKEOFF ROLL & INITIAL CLIMB, THE ACFT WAS OBSERVED TO ENTER A STEEP NOSE HIGH ATTITUDE. THE ACFT THEN WENT INTO A STEEP, SLOW SPEED TURN, ENTERED A NEAR VERTICAL, SPINNING DIVE, CRASHED INTO A LARGE METAL BUILDING & BURNED. THE WIND WAS REPORTED TO BE FROM THE NORTH AT 10 GUSTING 25 KTS.
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
- Ratings: multi-engine land
- Medical certificate: Unknown
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A1A (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 32, 2,800 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 360° at 10 knots, gusting 25
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 10°F (-12°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
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.