Cessna 172P accident near Houston, Texas, March 14, 1984
On March 14, 1984 at about 6:23 am local time, a Cessna 172P, registered N54647, was substantially damaged in an accident near Houston, Texas (Houston International airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
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 14, 1984 · about 6:23 am local time
- Place
- Houston, Texas · Houston International
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172P · all 172Ps on the register
- Registration
- N54647 · no longer on the register · serial 17275023
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE NON-INSTRUMENT RATED PLT DEPARTED DALLAS, TX, AND WAS ON A VFR FLIGHT PLAN TO HOUSTON GULF PORT ARPT. UNABLE TO LANDTHERE DUE TO WX, THE PLT REQUESTED ATC VECTORS TO HOUSTON INTERCONTINENTAL (IAH). IAH ATC GAVE THE PLT VECTORS FOR AN ILS APCH TO RWY 08. THE PLT FLEW THE ILS APCH WITHOUT THE APCH CHARTS & CRASHED PAST THE END OF THE RWY DURING THE ATTEMPTED MISSED APCH.
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: 123 hours in all; 13 in this make and model; 13 in the last 90 days; 79 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection; 82 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,150 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-02J (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: RBD Dallas TX at 2:49 am
- Destination: SPX Houston TX
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 8, 9,400 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 110° at 4 knots
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 59°F (15°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:51 am from IAH
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.