Cessna 172E accident near Hobart, Oklahoma, February 10, 1985
On February 10, 1985 at about 2:15 am local time, a Cessna 172E, registered N3818S, was substantially damaged in an accident near Hobart, Oklahoma (Hobart airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 4 people had minor injuries. 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
- February 10, 1985 · about 2:15 am local time
- Place
- Hobart, Oklahoma · Hobart · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 4 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172E · all 172Es on the register
- Registration
- N3818S · no longer on the register · serial 17251018
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AT 1515 CST, THE PLT CONTACTED A FSS & WAS ADVISED THAT A FRONT WOULD BE MOVING THRU THE DESTINATION (HOBART) AREA AT ABOUT 2200. WHEN HE DEPARTED STILLWATER AT 1840, THE WIND WAS FROM THE SOUTH. AT 2004, THE PLT CONTACTED ALTUS AFB & WAS ADVISED THAT THE WINDS WERE 210 TO 220 DEGS AT 14 KTS. THINKING THE WINDS AT HOBART WOULD BE SOUTHERLY, HE ELECTED TO LAND ON RWY 17. DURING THE LANDING, HE WAS UNABLE TO STOP ON THE RWY. THE ACFT CONTINUED OFF THE END, HIT A DITCH & NOSED OVER. THE PLT REPORTED THAT AFTER THE ACCIDENT, HE NOTED THE WIND WAS FROM THE NORTH AT 10 GUSTING TO 20 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
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 100 hours in all; 100 in this make and model; 30 in the last 90 days; 60 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,380 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 18, 1984; 51 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,150 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-300-D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SWO Stillwater OK
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 17, 5,280 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 360° at 10 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 30°F (-1°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
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.