Cessna 172 accident near Halstead, Kansas, April 1, 1987
On April 1, 1987 at about 7:15 pm local time, a Cessna 172, registered N733PX, was substantially damaged in an accident near Halstead, Kansas (Holstead airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 2 others were unhurt. 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 1, 1987 · about 7:15 pm local time
- Place
- Halstead, Kansas · Holstead
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 2 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172 · all 172s on the register
- Registration
- N733PX · registry record · serial 17268453
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PIC RPTD LNDG LONG ON A 2600 FT SOD RWY. DURING THE LNDG ROLL, THE PIC RPTD ENCOUNTERING A TAILWIND. THE CLOSEST FSS AT WICHITA, 20 MI FM THE ACCIDENT ARPT, RPTD NO SIGNIFICANT WIND CHG DURING THIS PERIOD, THE PIC, KNOWING THAT HE HAD LANDED LONG AND BELIEVING HE HAD ENCOUNTERED A TAILWIND, STATED THAT HE HAD INSUFFICIENT RWY IN WHICH TO EXCUTE A GO-AROUND. THE PIC WAS UABLE TO ET THE ACFT STOPPED BEFORE RUNNING OFF THE RWY AND NOSING OVER.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 749 hours in all; 476 in this make and model; 125 in the last 90 days; 682 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,480 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 10, 1986
- Maximum gross weight: 2,220 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-H2AD (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 3KM at 4:45 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 2,640 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 360° at 20 knots, gusting 25
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 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.
Other NTSB records under N733PX the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.