Cessna 172 accident near Marietta, Oklahoma, February 26, 1989
On February 26, 1989 at about 7:00 pm local time, a Cessna 172, registered N734DR, was substantially damaged in an accident near Marietta, Oklahoma (Mcgehee Catfish airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO SELECT THE PROPER RUNWAY, WHICH RESULTED IN A DOWNWIND LANDING AND AN OVERRUN OF THE RUNWAY. THE GUSTY TAILWIND, DITCH, AND RAILING (FENCE) WERE FACTORS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 26, 1989 · about 7:00 pm local time
- Place
- Marietta, Oklahoma · Mcgehee Catfish
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172 · all 172s on the register
- Registration
- N734DR · registry record · serial 17268778
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 91 hours in all; 18 in this make and model; 10 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days; 58 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 8F7 Decatur TX at 6:30 pm
- Destination: T40
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 17, 2,450 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 045° at 12 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 3,500 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
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.