Cessna 172 accident near Claremore, Oklahoma, October 9, 1990
On October 9, 1990 at about 11:25 pm local time, a Cessna 172, registered N46174, was substantially damaged in an accident near Claremore, Oklahoma. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
FAILURE OF PILOT IN COMMAND TO INSURE THE AIRCRAFT CONTAINED ENOUGH FUEL FOR THE FLIGHT RESULTING IN ENGINE FAILURE DUE TO FUEL EXHAUSTION.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 9, 1990 · about 11:25 pm local time
- Place
- Claremore, Oklahoma · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172 · all 172s on the register
- Registration
- N46174 · no longer on the register · serial 17257089
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ENGINE FAILED APPROXIMATELY 30 MILES NORTH EAST OF THE DESTINATION, TULSA, OKLAHOMA, DUE TO FUEL EXHAUSTION. ENROUTE THE FLIGHT ENCOUNTERED VARYING DEGREES OF ICE, BUT NEARING TULSA CONDITIONS IMPROVED TO VISUAL FLIGHT RULES. INITIALLY THERE WAS A PARTIAL POWER LOSS AND THE PILOT SELECTED A PRECAUTIONARY LANDING SITE. A FEW MINUTES BEFORE TOUCHDOWN TOTAL POWER WAS LOST AND A FORCED LANDING WAS MADE IN ROUGH TERRAIN. DURING THE LANDING ROLL THE AIRPLANE STRUCK TREES, FENCES, AND A DITCH, CAUSING IT TO ROLLOVER INVERTED.
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: 295 hours in all; 125 in this make and model; 41 in the last 90 days; 14 in the last 30 days; 165 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ 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-E20 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MLI Moline IL at 5:40 pm
- Destination: TUL Tulsa OK
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 350° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 5,000 ft; clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:55 pm from TUL, 10 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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 N46174 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.