Cessna 172K accident near Oxford, Nebraska, November 25, 1982
On November 25, 1982 at about 10:45 pm local time, a Cessna 172K, registered N79173, was destroyed in an accident near Oxford, Nebraska. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 3 people were killed. 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
- November 25, 1982 · about 10:45 pm local time
- Place
- Oxford, Nebraska · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172K · all 172Ks on the register
- Registration
- N79173 · no longer on the register · serial 17257935
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT MADE 3 LOW PASSES NEAR HIS SON'S HOME. REPORTEDLY, THE 3RD PASS WAS MADE AT AN ALTITUDE OF ABOUT 40 TO 50 FT AGL. A WITNESS THEN OBSERVED THE PILOT PULL UP ABRUPTLY TO ABOUT A 45 DEG CLIMB. AFTER CLIMBING AN ADDITIONAL 40 TO 50 FT, THE AIRCRAFT STALLED AND IMPACTED WITH THE GROUND. THE WITNESS REPORTED THAT THE ENGINE HAD CUT OUT AT THE HIGHEST POINT ABOVE THE GROUND, BUT NO INDICATION OF A POWER LOSS WAS FOUND DURING AN EXAMINATION OF THE WRECKAGE. THE AIRCRAFT HAD BEEN PARTIALLY FILLED WITH AUTOMOTIVE FUEL.
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: 472 hours in all; 472 in this make and model; 432 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,877 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 9 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,550 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: LNK Lincoln NE at 2:54 pm
- Destination: 56V Oxford NE
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 320° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 20,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 109°F (43°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:47 pm from LBF, 80 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.