Cessna 172N accident near Lebanon, Ohio, August 1, 1998
On August 1, 1998 at about 2:40 pm local time, a Cessna 172N, registered N733LK, was substantially damaged in an accident near Lebanon, Ohio (Brownies Lebanon Airport). 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's delay in aborting the landing, which resulted in inadequate obstacle (car) clearance during initial takeoff climb. A contributing factor is the pilot's decision to perform a tailwind landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 1, 1998 · about 2:40 pm local time
- Place
- Lebanon, Ohio · Brownies Lebanon Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172N · all 172Ns on the register
- Registration
- N733LK · registry record · serial 68373
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The flight instructor was to demonstrate a sod field landing to the student pilot. The instructor set up for approach and landing to the west, with winds from the east at 7 knots. After touchdown, the instructor braked for a full stop but the airplane started to skid. The instructor then added power and configured the airplane for a go-around. He said he then attempted to abort the go-around because the flaps had not retracted, but the airplane again began to skid. During the skid, the flaps retracted and he again applied power for takeoff. The instructor stated that he lacked the runway to stop and could not gain sufficient airspeed to fly. At the end of the runway, in an effort to clear the highway at the departure end, the pilot 'popped' the airplane into the air. While over the highway, the landing struck the roof of a passing car. The airplane continued and landed in a field on the other side of the highway. Examination of the airplane revealed no discrepancies with the flaps or the flap actuating system.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 390 hours in all; 194 in this make and model; 86 in the last 90 days; 22 in the last 30 days; 293 as pilot in command; 98 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,602 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 26, 1998; 69 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-H2AD (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: I77 Blue Ash OH at 2:00 pm
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 27, 2,100 ft by 40 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 080° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:53 pm from LUK, 19 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.
Other NTSB records under N733LK the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.