Cessna 172K accident near Lanai, Hawaii, January 12, 1987
On January 12, 1987 at about 8:30 pm local time, a Cessna 172K, registered N7459, was substantially damaged in an accident near Lanai, Hawaii (Lanai 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 NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 12, 1987 · about 8:30 pm local time
- Place
- Lanai, Hawaii · Lanai · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172K · all 172Ks on the register
- Registration
- N7459 · registry record · serial 17259159
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE CESSNA 172K NOSED OVER IN STRONG WINDS WHILE TAXIING FOR DEPARTURE ON RWY 3. THE PLT INDICATED THAT HE WAS 'BACK TAXIING' ON RWY 3 WHEN THE WIND 'GOT UNDER WING, THEN UNDER TAIL, AND PLANE TURNED UPSIDE DOWN.' THE PLT ALSO INDICATED THAT THE WINDS WERE FROM 030 DEGREES AT 25 KTS GUSTING TO 30 KTS AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. THE WINDS WERE REPORTED AT THE MOLOKAI AIRPORT LOCATED 23 NAUTICAL MILES TO THE NNW TO BE FROM 070 DEGREES AT 20 KTS GUSTING TO 25 KTS. THE OPERATORS MANUAL FOR THE CESSNA 172 INDICATES THE PLT SHOULD USE DOWN AILERON ON THE WING INTO THE WIND AND DOWN ELEVATOR WHEN TAXIING WITH QUARTERING TAILWINDS. THE MANUAL ALSO STATES, 'STRONG QUARTERING TAIL WINDS REQUIRE CAUTION. AVOID SUDDEN BURSTS OF THE THROTTLE AND SHARP BRAKING WHEN THE AIRPLANE IS IN THIS ATTITUDE.'
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: 263 hours in all; 263 in this make and model; 28 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days; 263 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 7,400 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 16, 1986
- Maximum gross weight: 2,150 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: LNY Lanai HI at 8:30 pm
- Destination: MKK Molokai HI
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 3, 5,000 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 030° at 25 knots, gusting 30
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.