Cessna 172H accident near Commerce, Texas, July 24, 1998
On July 24, 1998 at about 3:00 pm local time, a Cessna 172H, registered N3743R, was substantially damaged in an accident near Commerce, Texas (Commerce Municipal airport). It was a personal flight 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
The pilot's inadequate compensation for the crosswind resulting in a loss of control. A factor was the crosswind.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 24, 1998 · about 3:00 pm local time
- Place
- Commerce, Texas · Commerce Municipal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172H · all 172Hs on the register
- Registration
- N3743R · no longer on the register · serial 17255543
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During landing on runway 18 with a right crosswind, the private pilot lost control of the airplane. Upon touchdown, the airplane bounced, and according to the pilot, the wind 'got under' the right wing. The left wing tip touched the runway, and the airplane turned to the left. Although the pilot initially added power to go around, when he realized it was not possible to clear the tree line ahead, he reduced power and landed the airplane. During the ground roll, the airplane collided with the trees. The pilot reported the wind was from 240 degrees at 17 knots gusting to 20 knots.
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: 308 hours in all; 242 in this make and model; 47 in the last 90 days; 38 in the last 30 days; 209 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,885 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 14, 1997; 81 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-300 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: GVT Greenville TX at 2:15 pm
- Destination: 2F7
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 3,900 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 240° at 17 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 90°F (32°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
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.