Cessna 172N accident near Westbrook, Texas, November 8, 1985
On November 8, 1985 at about 10:00 pm local time, a Cessna 172N, registered N733SG, was substantially damaged in an accident near Westbrook, Texas. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 people were 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
- November 8, 1985 · about 10:00 pm local time
- Place
- Westbrook, Texas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172N · all 172Ns on the register
- Registration
- N733SG · no longer on the register · serial 17268508
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT NOSED OVER DURING A PRECAUTIONARY LANDING ON ROUGH TERRAIN. THE PLT REPORTED THAT AT APRX 600 FT AGL, A GRADUALDECREASE IN RPM WAS EXPERIENCED. CARB HEAT WAS APPLIED FOR ABOUT 15 SECS BUT WAS REMOVED WHEN THE RPM DECREASE CONTINUED. A PRECAUTIONARY LANDING WAS MADE DURING WHICH THE NOSE GEAR CONTACTED A TREE STUMP, COLLAPSED AND THE ACFT NOSED OVER. POST ACCIDENT INSPECTION OF THE ENG FAILED TO DISCLOSE ANY MECHANICAL FAILURE/MALFUNCTION. THE ONLY DISCREPANCY NOTED WERE SOOT COVERED SPARK PLUGS.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 1,564 hours in all; 3 in this make and model; 95 in the last 90 days; 12 in the last 30 days; 1,250 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,933 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 28, 1985; 33 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,100 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-H2AD (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: BGS Big Spring TX at 9:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 18 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:50 am from MAF, 67 miles away
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.