Cessna C172 accident near Fort Worth, Texas, June 30, 1990
On June 30, 1990, a Cessna C172, registered N179FR, was substantially damaged in an accident near Fort Worth, Texas (Meacham Field). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 2 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO FOLLOW PUBLISHED PROCEDURES WHEN HE ELECTED TO TAKE-OFF WITH FULL FLAPS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 30, 1990
- Place
- Fort Worth, Texas · Meacham Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 2 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna C172
- Registration
- N179FR · no longer on the register · serial 7273136
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING A VISUAL FIGHT RULES DEPARTURE FROM THE AIRFIELD THE PILOT ELECTED TO TAKE OFF WITH FULL FLAPS. THE AIRCRAFT DESIGN CRITERIA DOES NOT PROVIDE FOR THIS TYPE OF TAKE-OFF AND ENGINE POWER IS INSUFFICIENT TO SUPPORT FLIGHT IN THIS CONFIGURATION.
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: 72 hours in all; 9 in this make and model; 10 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days; 41 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 7,033 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, January 12, 1990; 100 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,400 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-H2AD (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Business Air INC LTD
The flight
- Departed from: FTW
- Destination: PWA Oklahoma City OK
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 16, 7,500 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 12 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 3,000 ft
- Temperature: 93°F (34°C), dew point 64°F (18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:46 pm from FTW, 1 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 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.
Other NTSB records under N179FR the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.