Cessna 172N accident near Plano, Texas, May 18, 1988
On May 18, 1988 at about 9:15 pm local time, a Cessna 172N, registered N4675G, was substantially damaged in an accident near Plano, Texas (Dallas North airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person 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
- May 18, 1988 · about 9:15 pm local time
- Place
- Plano, Texas · Dallas North
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172N · all 172Ns on the register
- Registration
- N4675G · no longer on the register · serial 172-73301
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE STUDENT PILOT WAS RETURNING FROM PRACTICE IN THE LOCAL AREA AND WAS ATTEMPTING A LANDING WITH A LEFT QUARTERING HEADWIND, WITH WIND GUSTS. AFTER TOUCHDOWN, THE AIRPLANE STARTED TO FLOAT AND DRIFTED TO THE LEFT, OFF THE RUNWAY. THE PILOT ATTEMPTED A GO-AROUND. THE AIRPLANE BECAME NOSE HIGH WITH AN EXTREME LEFT BANK. THE PLT SAID THE NOSE STARTED TO LEVEL AND HE SAW HE WAS HEADING TOWARD TELEPHONE POLES/WIRES. HE SAID HE DID NOT APPLY FURTHER BACK PRESSURE AND LET THE AIRPLANE DESCEND TO THE GROUND WITH THE LEFT WING AND NOSE LOW.
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: student
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 22 hours in all; 22 in the last 90 days; 8 in the last 30 days; 2 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,713 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, May 4, 1988; 15 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,307 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-H2AD (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Stramel Aviation
The flight
- Departed from: F26 at 8:45 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 16, 3,060 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 150° at 5 knots, gusting 18
- Visibility: 8 statute miles
- Temperature: 90°F (32°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:47 pm from ADS, 8 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.