Cessna C172N accident near Marietta, Oklahoma, September 1, 1990
On September 1, 1990 at about 2:45 am local time, a Cessna C172N, registered N6434J, was substantially damaged in an accident near Marietta, Oklahoma (Mcgehee Catfish airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 3 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO ATTAIN THE PROPER CLIMB RATE AFTER TAKEOFF RESULTING IN THE AIRCRAFT COLLIDING WITH TREES AT THE DEPARTURE END OF THE RUNWAY. CONTRIBUING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE PILOT IN COMMANDS FAILURE TO ACCOUNT FOR HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 1, 1990 · about 2:45 am local time
- Place
- Marietta, Oklahoma · Mcgehee Catfish · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 3 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna C172N
- Registration
- N6434J · no longer on the register · serial 15063034
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING A DEPARTURE FROM AN UNIMPROVED AIRSTRIP THE PILOT DID NOT CORRECTLY PLAN FOR HIS HIGH GROSS WEIGHT, HIGH TEMPERATUURE, AND LACK OF WINDS, WHICH RESULTED IN THE AIRPLANE FAILURE TO GAIN SUFFICIENT ALTITUDE TO CLEAR THE OBJECTS AT THE DEPARTURE END OF THE RUNWAY. THE DENSITY ALTITUDE WAS 3,475 FEET.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 141 hours in all; 27 in this make and model; 6 in the last 90 days; 1 in the last 30 days; 107 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (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-H2AD (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: T40 Mcgehee Catfish OK at 2:45 am
- Destination: ADS Addison TX
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 35, 2,450 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 330° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 12 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 10,000 ft
- Temperature: 90°F (32°C), dew point 70°F (21°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:47 pm from ADM, 16 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 2 |
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 N6434J 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.