Cessna 172G accident near Elk City, Oklahoma, November 2, 1997
On November 2, 1997 at about 8:15 pm local time, a Cessna 172G, registered N5745R, was substantially damaged in an accident near Elk City, Oklahoma (Elk City Municipal airport). It was a personal 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 high winds and the pilot's poor judgment in attempting to taxi in the existing wind conditions.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 2, 1997 · about 8:15 pm local time
- Place
- Elk City, Oklahoma · Elk City Municipal
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172G · all 172Gs on the register
- Registration
- N5745R · no longer on the register · serial 17253414
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to personnel at the airport, the airplane, which is based at the Elk City Municipal Airport, taxied to runway 35 to depart for a local flight. The pilot was reported to have completed the runup facing into the wind at the runup area for runway 35. Following the runup, the pilot maneuvered the airplane to take the active runway. While turning the airplane, the tail of the airplane was turned into the prevailing wind and the airplane nosed over and came to rest in the inverted position. The recorded winds at the Clinton Sherman Industrial Airport which is located 18 miles east of Elk City, were reported from 340 degrees at 27 knots, gusting to 33. The peak wind was reported at 35 knots on the 1345 hourly observation.
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: 205 hours in all; 24 in this make and model; 24 in the last 90 days; 6 in the last 30 days; 152 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,439 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 20, 1997; 25 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-300-D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: ELK
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 35, 4,402 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 340° at 27 knots, gusting 33
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 23°F (-5°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:45 pm from CSM, 18 miles away
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.