Cessna 172RG accident near Weston, Texas, June 29, 1995
On June 29, 1995 at about 9:30 pm local time, a Cessna 172RG, registered N9502D, was substantially damaged in an accident near Weston, Texas. It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT RECEIVING INSTRUCTION'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN CLEARANCE WITH POWER LINES WHILE MANEUVERING AT LOW ALTITUDE AND THE FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR'S INADEQUATE SUPERVISION. A FACTOR WAS THE INSTRUCTOR'S DECISION TO ALLOW THE SIMULATION TO CONTINUE TO SUCH A LOW ALTITUDE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 29, 1995 · about 9:30 pm local time
- Place
- Weston, Texas
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172RG · all 172RGs on the register
- Registration
- N9502D · no longer on the register · serial 172RG1190
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE TOP 6 INCHES OF THE VERTICAL STABILIZER AND RUDDER SEPARATED FROM THE AIRFRAME AFTER THE AIRPLANE STRUCK A POWER LINE DURING RECOVERY FROM A SIMULATED FORCED LANDING. THE POWER LINE WAS SUSPENDED 25 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND. NEITHER THE FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR NOR THE PILOT RECEIVING INSTRUCTION REPORTED SEEING THE WIRE PRIOR TO IMPACT. THE INSTRUCTOR TOOK OVER THE CONTROLS AFTER THE PILOT FLYING REPORTED A LOST OF RUDDER EFFECTIVENESS. A SUCCESSFUL PRECAUTIONARY LANDING WAS MADE AT A NEARBY AIRPORT.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,100 hours in all; 65 in this make and model; 130 in the last 90 days; 83 in the last 30 days; 120 as pilot in command; 610 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,885 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, May 31, 1995; 68 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,650 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-F1A6 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: ADS Addison TX at 8:15 pm
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 140° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 12 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 20,000 ft; scat at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 86°F (30°C), dew point 72°F (22°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:47 pm from ADS, 30 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.