Cessna 172F accident near Cumby, Texas, August 2, 1991
On August 2, 1991 at about 10:15 pm local time, a Cessna 172F, registered N5524R, was substantially damaged in an accident near Cumby, Texas. 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
POWER LOSS DUE TO A BLOCKED FUEL VENT SYSTEM. A FACTOR WAS THE LACK OF SUITABLE TERRAIN FOR THE FORCED LANDING.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 2, 1991 · about 10:15 pm local time
- Place
- Cumby, Texas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172F · all 172Fs on the register
- Registration
- N5524R · no longer on the register · serial 17253102
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THIRTY-FOUR MINUTES AFTER DEPARTURE, A TOTAL LOSS OF POWER WAS EXPERIENCED DUE TO A BLOCKED FUEL VENT SYSTEM. DURING THE FORCED LANDING TO AN OPEN FIELD, THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH A BARBED-WIRE FENCE AND CAME TO REST. THE PILOT DID NOT POSSESS A CURRENT MEDICAL CERTIFICATE AND HAD NOT RECEIVED A CURRENT BIENNIAL FLIGHT REVIEW. THE AIRPLANE HAD FLOWN A TOTAL OF FIVE HOURS IN THE LAST EIGHT MONTHS.
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: 309 hours in all; 236 in this make and model; 273 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: None (expired)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, November 26, 1991
- Maximum gross weight: 2,150 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-300-D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 59F Seagoville TX at 9:40 pm
- Destination: SLR Sulfur Springs TX
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 7,000 ft
- Temperature: 97°F (36°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.
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.