Cessna 172M accident near Borinquen, Puerto Rico, April 16, 1986
On April 16, 1986 at about 1:15 am local time, a Cessna 172M, registered N9194H, was substantially damaged in an accident near Borinquen, Puerto Rico (Borinquen 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
- April 16, 1986 · about 1:15 am local time
- Place
- Borinquen, Puerto Rico · Borinquen
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172M · all 172Ms on the register
- Registration
- N9194H · no longer on the register · serial 17266007
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT STATED THAT AFTER COMPLETING A LOCAL FLT HE LANDED ON THE RWY AND NOTICED THAT THE TAXIWAY LIGHTS WERE INOPERATIVE WHERE HE WISHED TO TAXI. WHEN HE TAXIED OFF THE RWY THE PROPELLER AND LANDING GEAR STRUCK A CONCRETE CULVERT THAT WAS RESTING NEXT TO AN INOPERATIVE TAXI LIGHT AND AN OPEN MANHOLE COVER. NO RECORD OF ANY NOTAM ACTION REGARDING THE INOPERATIVE LIGHTS WAS FOUND DURING THE INVESTIGATION.
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: student
- Flight time: 217 hours in all; 160 in this make and model; 40 in the last 90 days; 112 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Unknown (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: BQN Borinquen PR
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 8, 11,700 ft by 200 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Visibility: 8 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 3,000 ft
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 72°F (22°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:10 am from BQN
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.
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.