Cessna 172 accident near Dexter, Missouri, January 15, 1990
On January 15, 1990 at about 6:30 pm local time, a Cessna 172, registered N7726U, was substantially damaged in an accident near Dexter, Missouri (Dexter airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT MISJUDGED HIS DISTANCE AND ALTITUDE ON FINAL APPROACH, AND FAILED TO REACH THE PROPER TOUCHDOWN POINT FOR LANDING. THE GUSTY CROSSWIND CONDITION WAS A RELATED FACTOR.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 15, 1990 · about 6:30 pm local time
- Place
- Dexter, Missouri · Dexter · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172 · all 172s on the register
- Registration
- N7726U · no longer on the register · serial 17251726
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT RPRTD THAT HE WAS LANDING ON RWY 18 WITH THE WIND FROM 220 DEG AT 20 GUSTING 27 KTS. HE SAID THE ACFT TOUCHED DOWN SHORT ON THE 200 FT OVERRUN. AFTER TOUCHDOWN, THE ACFT'S NOSEWHEEL STRUCK BURIED RAILROAD TIES THAT PROTRUDED ABOVE THE SURFACE. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE NOSE WHEEL COLLAPSED & THE FIREWALL WAS DAMAGED.
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: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,500 hours in all; 482 in this make and model; 10 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days; 2,250 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-300-D (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Crowley Ridge Fliers INC.
The flight
- Departed from: DXE at 6:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 4,500 ft by 97 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 220° at 20 knots, gusting 27
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.