Cessna 172E accident near Leona, Texas, April 3, 1988
On April 3, 1988 at about 7:20 pm local time, a Cessna 172E, registered N8775U, was substantially damaged in an accident near Leona, Texas. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 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
- April 3, 1988 · about 7:20 pm local time
- Place
- Leona, Texas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172E · all 172Es on the register
- Registration
- N8775U · no longer on the register · serial 17252679
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT PLANNED HIS APCH TO LAND ABOUT 1000 FT DOWN THE 3400 FT DIRT RWY BECAUSE THE FIRST 1000 FT WAS WET AND SOFT. THE LAST 400 FT WAS ALSO WET AND SOFT. THE WIND WAS CALM AND THE APCH SPEED WAS HIGH. DURING THE FLARE, THE ACFT BALLOONED AND FLOATED PAST THE INTENDED TOUCHDOWN PT. THE PLT THEN DECIDED THE ACFT WAS TOO FAR DOWN THE RWY FOR A SAFE LANDING AND EXECUTED A GO-AROUND. HE HAD EXTENDED THE FLAPS TO MORE THAN 30 DEG AND ON THIS ACFT THE FLAP SWITCH IS SPRING LOADED TO THE OFF POSITION. HE ALSO USED CARB HEAT DURING THE APCH AND DID NOT TURN IT OFF DURING THE GO-AROUND. THE ACFT ACCELERATED SLOWLY AND WHEN THE NOSE WAS RAISED TO CLEAR 50 FT TREES OFF THE END OF THE PRIVATE STRIP, THE ACFT MUSHED INTO THE TREES.
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: 185 hours in all; 155 in this make and model; 50 in the last 90 days; 126 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 24, 1987
- Maximum gross weight: 2,150 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-300-D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: GLS Galveston TX at 5:47 pm
- Destination: NONE
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 3,400 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:50 pm from CLL, 40 miles away
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.