Cessna 172P accident near La Porte, Texas, July 29, 1997
On July 29, 1997 at about 6:45 pm local time, a Cessna 172P, registered N52336, was substantially damaged in an accident near La Porte, Texas (La Porte Municipal airport). It was a flight of an unrecorded kind under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
failure of the pilot to maintain directional control of the airplane during the takeoff roll, as he attempted to close and lock the left cabin window. Factors relating to the accident were: the pilot's failure to follow the before takeoff checklist (secure the windows before starting the takeoff), and his diverted attention.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 29, 1997 · about 6:45 pm local time
- Place
- La Porte, Texas · La Porte Municipal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172P · all 172Ps on the register
- Registration
- N52336 · no longer on the register · serial 17274495
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot of cessna 172P, N52336, reported that he lost control of the airplane, as he attempted to close and lock the left cabin window with his right hand, while the airplane was on the takeoff roll. He stated that the airplane drifted off the left side of the runway and impacted a couple of taxiway lights prior to becoming airborne in a pronounced nose high attitude. The pilot further stated that while in 'ground effect the wheels of the airplane were never higher that 5 or 6 feet above the ground.' An instructor and his student were in the traffic pattern at the time of the accident. They reported that their airplane had just turned final approach to runway 23 as N52336 initiated his takeoff roll. They stated that the airplane pitched up with a steep nose high attitude moments after the airplane drifted off the left side of the runway. They further stated that 'the wings of the airplane started to rock left and right but then the left wing dropped.' The operator reported that the airplane struck the ground in a nose low attitude and in a slight left turn.
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: 66 hours in all; 66 in this make and model; 2 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,056 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: T41 at 5:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 23, 2,998 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 210° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 5,000 ft; scat at 4,000 ft
- Temperature: 90°F (32°C), dew point 72°F (22°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:50 pm from EFD, 15 miles away
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.