Cessna 172N accident near Prescott, Arizona, September 14, 1991
On September 14, 1991 at about 2:36 am local time, a Cessna 172N, registered N251ER, was substantially damaged in an accident near Prescott, Arizona (Ernest A. Love Fld. 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 FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE. CONTRIBUTING FACTORS RELATED TO THE DARK, NIGHT LIGHT CONDITION AND TO THE PILOT'S INEXPERIENCE IN THE TYPE OF NIGHTTIME TAKEOFF OPERATION.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 14, 1991 · about 2:36 am local time
- Place
- Prescott, Arizona · Ernest A. Love Fld. · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172N · all 172Ns on the register
- Registration
- N251ER · no longer on the register · serial 17271075
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE 81.9-HOUR TOTAL TIME, RECENTLY CERTIFICATED PRIVATE PILOT ATTEMPTED A DARK, NIGHTTIME TAKEOFF, ON A 7616 FOOT-LONG BY 150-FOOT WIDE RUNWAY. OVER 30 SECONDS EARLIER A BEECH 1900 AIRPLANE HAD DEPARTED FROM THE SAME RUNWAY. THE PRIVATE PILOT REPORTED THAT DURING HIS TAKEOFF ROLL THE AIRPLANE BEGAN SHAKING AND HE FELT 'UNCOMFORTABLE'. THE PILOT APPLIED BRAKES AND RUDDER BUT FAILED TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL. THE AIRPLANE VEERED OFF THE RUNWAY AND COLLIDED WITH A DIRT BANK. THE PILOT'S TOTAL NIGHTTIME PIC FLIGHT EXPERIENCE WAS 3.7 HOURS.
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: 82 hours in all; 82 in this make and model; 5 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days; 7 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, January 2, 2000
- Maximum gross weight: 2,550 lb
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A4M (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 21, 7,616 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 210° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 30°F (-1°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:51 am from PRC, 1 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.
Other NTSB records under N251ER 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.