Cessna 172K accident near Houston, Texas, April 11, 1988
On April 11, 1988 at about 5:15 pm local time, a Cessna 172K, registered N7116G, was substantially damaged in an accident near Houston, Texas (International 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 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 11, 1988 · about 5:15 pm local time
- Place
- Houston, Texas · International
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172K · all 172Ks on the register
- Registration
- N7116G · no longer on the register · serial 17258816
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE HIGH-WING, TRICYCLE GEAR AIRPLANE WAS TAXIING OUT IN WINDS GUSTING TO 29 KNOTS FROM ABOUT 320 DEGREES. WHILE THE AIRPLANE WAS HEADING 250 DEGREES, IT WAS OVERTURNED TO THE INVERTED POSITION. OWNER'S MANUAL DOES NOT LIST ANY RESTRICTIONS FOR MAXIMUM CROSSWINDS FOR TAXI OPERATION.
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: 430 hours in all; 15 in the last 90 days; 233 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,458 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 22, 1988
- Maximum gross weight: 2,150 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2D (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Westheimers Flyers, INC.
The flight
- Destination: 5TA4 Fulshear TX
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 310° at 16 knots, gusting 29
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 25°F (-4°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:52 pm from IAH
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.