Cessna 172G accident near Spring, Texas, January 21, 1986
On January 21, 1986 at about 9:30 am local time, a Cessna 172G, registered N3373B, was substantially damaged in an accident near Spring, Texas (Houston 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 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
- January 21, 1986 · about 9:30 am local time
- Place
- Spring, Texas · Houston · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172G · all 172Gs on the register
- Registration
- N3373B · registry record · serial 17253577
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT CONTINUED VFR FLIGHT INTO IFR WEATHER CONDITIONS WHICH HE HAD ENCOUNTERED NEAR HIS DESTINATION DURING THE LAST FEW MOMENTS OF HIS APPROXIMATE FOUR HOUR, NIGHT, CROSS-COUNTRY FLIGHT. HE THEN TURNED BACK TO HOUSTON INTERCONTINENTAL AIRPORT TO LAND. HE WAS LOW ON FUEL. HIS ENGINE STOPPED ABOUT THREE MILES FROM THE INTENDED POINT OF TOUCHDOWN. HE DESCENDED THROUGH THE FOG AND SPOTTED A ROAD ON WHICH HE MADE A FORCED LANDING. DURING ROLLOUT THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED MAIL BOXES AND CAME TO REST IN THE FRONT OF A RESIDENCE.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,091 hours in all; 557 in this make and model; 28 in the last 90 days; 3,091 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,710 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 25, 1985
- Maximum gross weight: 2,150 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-300-D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MOB Mobile AL at 5:00 am
- Destination: DWH Tom Ball TX
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0, 12,000 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 220° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 1 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 200 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 59°F (15°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:28 am from IAH, 3 miles away
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.