Cessna 172RG accident near Rio Hondo, Texas, May 22, 1997
On May 22, 1997 at about 5:00 pm local time, a Cessna 172RG, registered N9492D, was destroyed in an accident near Rio Hondo, Texas (Farm Services airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
failure of the pilot to use all of the available runway during landing, and his resultant failure to attain a proper touchdown point for a safe rollout. Factors relating to the accident were: the wet runway with hydroplaning conditions, the uneven terrain (after the aircraft exited the runway), and the proximity of tree(s).
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 22, 1997 · about 5:00 pm local time
- Place
- Rio Hondo, Texas · Farm Services · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172RG · all 172RGs on the register
- Registration
- N9492D · no longer on the register · serial 172RG1186
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot was returning to land on runway 18 after a 1 hour local flight. His first approach was 'high', and during the approach, he observed a rain shower at the departure end, moving in a northerly direction. The pilot then elected to execute a go-around and set up for another approach. He extended 30 degrees of flaps on the second approach, which was also high, and the aircraft touched down about 1,100 feet down the 2,600 foot runway. The pilot applied brakes, but the aircraft 'hydroplaned' and skidded off the right side of the runway, past the departure end, and onto uneven grassy terrain. The left wing struck a tree and the aircraft came to rest in a drainage ditch. Witnesses reported that there was standing water on the runway when the aircraft landed.
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: 245 hours in all; 53 in this make and model; 18 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,796 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 4, 1996; 90 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,650 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-F1AG (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: XS64 at 4:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 2,600 ft by 22 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 350° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 2,800 ft; scat at 1,900 ft
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 75°F (24°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:53 pm from HRL
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.