Cessna 172M accident near Odessa, Texas, March 31, 1983
On March 31, 1983 at about 9:45 pm local time, a Cessna 172M, registered N9591H, was substantially damaged in an accident near Odessa, Texas (Schlemeyer 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 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
- March 31, 1983 · about 9:45 pm local time
- Place
- Odessa, Texas · Schlemeyer · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172M · all 172Ms on the register
- Registration
- N9591H · no longer on the register · serial 17266250
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
REPORTEDLY, BEFORE LANDING, FLT SERVICE ADVISED THAT THE WIND WAS FROM 220 DEG. WHILE ON AN APCH TO RWY 20, THE PLT ENCOUNTERED SEVERE BUFFETING. AFTER TOUCHING DOWN IN A X-WIND CONDITION, THE ACFT ROLLED APRX 300 FT, THEN ENCOUNTERED A GUST OF WIND & DRIFTED OFF THE RWY. THE PLT ELECTED TO 'GO WITH THE WIND & USE THE GRASS BESIDE THE RWY TO STOP.' AFTER DECELERATING ON THE GRASS TO APRX 30 MPH, ANOTHER GUST WAS ENCOUNTERED & THE ACFT DRIFTED FURTHER LEFT & HIT A MOUND OF DIRT. AFTER THE ACCIDENT, THE PLT REPORTED THE WIND WAS FROM 270 DEG AT 20, GUSTING 30 KTS. APRX 9 MI WEST SOUTHWEST AT THE MIDLAND REGIONAL ARPT, THE 1552 CST WIND WAS FROM 250 DEG AT 24, GUSTING 33 KTS. REPORTEDLY, THE PLT COULD HAVE LANDED ON A MORE FAVORABLE RWY (RWY 29).
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: 167 hours in all; 69 in this make and model; 6 in the last 90 days; 139 as pilot in command; 11 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 855 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 11, 1983
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 21XS Big Spring TX at 8:55 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 20, 5,000 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 20 knots, gusting 30
- Visibility: 100 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
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.