Cessna 172 accident near Abilene, Texas, November 2, 1990
On November 2, 1990 at about 7:40 pm local time, a Cessna 172, registered N5096D, was substantially damaged in an accident near Abilene, Texas (Abilene 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
PILOT'S FAILURE TO COMPENSATE FOR GUSTY WIND CONDITION.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 2, 1990 · about 7:40 pm local time
- Place
- Abilene, Texas · Abilene
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172 · all 172s on the register
- Registration
- N5096D · registry record · serial 17272420
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING AN APPROACH TO RUNWAY 22 THE STUDENT PILOT ENCOUNTERED MILD TURBULENCE AND HIGH WIND GUSTS IN EXCESS OF TWENTY FOUR KNOTS FROM THE LEFT. THE AIRPLANE BEGAN A RAPID DESCENT FROM APPROXIMATELY FIFTY FEET RESULTING IN THE PILOT LOSING DIRECTIONAL CONTROL, FOLLOWED BY GROUND IMPACT.
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
- Flight time: 54 hours in all; 54 in this make and model; 24 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days; 14 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-H2AD (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: ABI at 6:15 pm
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 22, 3,686 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 6 knots, gusting 24
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 3,000 ft; scat at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:54 pm from ABI
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.