Cessna 172P accident near Omaha, Nebraska, April 12, 1986
On April 12, 1986 at about 1:30 am local time, a Cessna 172P, registered N63177, was substantially damaged in an accident near Omaha, Nebraska (Eppley Airfield). 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 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 12, 1986 · about 1:30 am local time
- Place
- Omaha, Nebraska · Eppley Airfield · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172P · all 172Ps on the register
- Registration
- N63177 · registry record · serial 17275400
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT STATED HE WAS ATTEMPTING A NIGHT LANDING BUT AFTER REPEATED TRYS HE REQUESTED ASSISTANCE ON THE RADIO. THE PLT FURTHER STATED THAT THE INOPERATIVE LANDING LIGHT COMPOUNDED THE TROUBLE AND HE MADE A HARD THREE POINT LANDING. SUBSEQUENT INSPECTION OF THE AIRCRAFT BY A MECHANIC REVEALED A SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT OF DAMAGE. THE CHIEF PILOT FOR THE FLIGHT SCHOOL STATED THAT THEIR 14CFR141 PILOT SCHOOL CERTIFICATE HAD RECENTLY EXPIRED AND THEY WERE NOT CONTEMPLATING A RENEWAL OPTING INSTEAD TO OPERATE UNDER 14CFR61.
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: 57 hours in all; 3 in this make and model; 7 in the last 90 days; 25 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,833 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, March 25, 1986; 26 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,150 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-D2J (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Sky Harbor Air Service
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 14L, 4,297 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 6,000 ft
- Temperature: 55°F (13°C), dew point 39°F (4°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:45 am from OMA
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.
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.