Cessna 172K accident near Mayaguez, Puerto Rico, May 10, 1990
On May 10, 1990 at about 5:15 pm local time, a Cessna 172K, registered N7268G, was destroyed in an accident near Mayaguez, Puerto Rico (Eugenio Maria De Hostos airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed and 2 people were seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S FAILUE TO CONDUCT PROPER PREFLIGHT PREPARATIONS, RESULTING IN A TAKEOFF AT 175 POUNDS OVER MAXIMUM ALLOWABLE GROSS WEIGHT, WITH FULL FLAPS EXTENDED, AND ON THE IMPROPER RUNWAY FOR WIND CONDITIONS WHICH RESULTED IN THE AIRPLANE BEING UNABLE TO CLIMB AFTER LIFTOFF AND SUBSEQUENT COLLISION WITH ELECTRICAL LINES 1,625 FEET BEYOND THE DEPARTURE END OF THE RUNWAY.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 10, 1990 · about 5:15 pm local time
- Place
- Mayaguez, Puerto Rico · Eugenio Maria De Hostos
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed and 2 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172K · all 172Ks on the register
- Registration
- N7268G · registry record · serial 17258968
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
PILOT MADE A DOWNWIND TAKEOFF WITH FULL FLAPS EXTENDED AT A WEIGHT 175 POUNDS OVER MAXIMUM ALLOWABLE WEIGHT FOR THE AIRPLANE. THE AIRPLANE BECAME AIRBORNE BUT WOULD NOT CLIMB. AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH POWER LINES 1,625 FEET PAST THE DEPARTURE END OF THE RUNWAY AND CRASHED TO THE GROUND.
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: 78 hours in all; 13 in this make and model; 2 in the last 90 days; 27 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,845 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 14, 1990; 88 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-320-E20 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: San Juan PR
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27, 4,999 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 8 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 88°F (31°C), dew point 73°F (23°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:50 pm from MAZ, 1 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 | 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.