Cessna 172G accident near Springfield, Missouri, March 24, 1988
On March 24, 1988 at about 6:50 pm local time, a Cessna 172G, registered N72PF, was substantially damaged in an accident near Springfield, Missouri (Springfield). It was an aerial observation 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
- March 24, 1988 · about 6:50 pm local time
- Place
- Springfield, Missouri · Springfield · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172G · all 172Gs on the register
- Registration
- N72PF · registry record · serial 17253530
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial observation flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT REPORTED THAT WHILE TAXIING FOR TAKEOFF A WIND GUST CAUGHT THE WING OF THE AIRCRAFT RESULTING IN LOSS OF AIRCRAFT CONTROL. AIRCRAFT MOVED NOSE DOWN AND THE PROPELLER AND THE RIGHT WING CONTACTED THE RUNWAY. WINDS AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT WERE 180 DEGREES AT 29 KNOTS WITH GUSTS TO 41 KNOTS.
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; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 680 hours in all; 294 in this make and model; 164 in the last 90 days; 577 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,748 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection; 12 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,150 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-300 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Pro-Flight Air INC.
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 19, 7,003 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 29 knots, gusting 41
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 2,700 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:51 pm from SGF
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.