Cessna 172RG accident near Key Largo, Florida, November 18, 1992
On November 18, 1992 at about 11:20 pm local time, a Cessna 172RG, registered N5190V, was substantially damaged in an accident near Key Largo, Florida (Ocean Reef Club Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT IN COMMAND'S FAILURE TO OBTAIN THE PROPER TOUCHDOWN POINT ON LANDING. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE PILOT IN COMMAND'S IMPROPER PREFLIGHT PLANNING PREPARATION AND SELECTION OF THE WRONG RUNWAY RELATIVE TO THE WIND.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 18, 1992 · about 11:20 pm local time
- Place
- Key Largo, Florida · Ocean Reef Club Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172RG · all 172RGs on the register
- Registration
- N5190V · registry record · serial 172RG0463
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE COMMERCIAL PILOT ATTEMPTED TO CONTACT THE DESTINATION AIRPORT ON UNICOM RADIO WITH NEGATIVE RESULTS. A LOW APPROACH WAS MADE TO RUNWAY 04, AND THE PILOT REVERSED HIS LANDING DIRECTION TO RUNWAY 22 WITHOUT OBTAINING SURFACE WIND INFORMATION. THE PILOT LANDED DOWNWIND AND LONG WITHOUT RUNWAY LIGHTS. THE AIRPLANE RAN OFF THE END OF THE RUNWAY, CROSSED A SERVICE ROAD AND COLLIDED WITH A TREE, SEPARATING THE RIGHT WING FROM THE AIRPLANE.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,550 hours in all; 30 in this make and model; 32 in the last 90 days; 30 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,166 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 3, 1992; 20 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,650 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-F1A6 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Suncoast Flying Services, INC.
The flight
- Departed from: CLW Clearwater FL at 10:20 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 22, 4,050 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 040° at 12 knots, gusting 18
- Sky: scat at 2,000 ft
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 68°F (20°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:00 pm from MIA, 16 miles away
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.