Cessna 172 accident near Millville, Ohio, July 5, 1991
On July 5, 1991 at about 2:45 am local time, a Cessna 172, registered N21662, was substantially damaged in an accident near Millville, Ohio. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S IMPROPER IN-FLIGHT PLANNING/DECISION AFTER BECOMING LOST, RESULTING IN ENGINE FUEL EXHAUSTION. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE PILOT'S LACK OF FAMILIARITY WITH THE GEOGRAPHIC AREA, AND HIS LACK OF EXPERIENCE IN THIS TYPE OF OPERATION.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 5, 1991 · about 2:45 am local time
- Place
- Millville, Ohio · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172 · all 172s on the register
- Registration
- N21662 · registry record · serial 17263984
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT PLANNED FOR 4.6 HOURS EN ROUTE FOR THE FLIGHT FROM MANHATTAN, KANSAS TO HARRISON, OHIO. AT THE ESTIMATED ARRIVAL TIME, THE PILOT WAS UNABLE TO LOCATE HIS DESTINATION AIRPORT. HE CIRCLED FOR ABOUT 45 MINUTES TRYING TO FIND THE AIRPORT. HE DID NOT ASK FOR HELP FROM THE AVAILABLE RADAR SERVICES IN THE AREA. ENGINE FUEL EXHAUSTION OCCURRED AND A FORCED LANDING WAS MADE ONTO A PARKING LOT, STRIKING A FENCE. THE PILOT SAID, 'AT THE FIRST SIGN OF DISORIENTATION I SHOULD HAVE CONTACTED CINCINNATI RADAR CONTROL FOR VECTORS.' THE PILOT'S FLIGHT EXPERIENCE WAS PRIMARILY IN HELICOPTERS. HE HAD A TOTAL FLIGHT TIME OF 12 HOURS IN THIS MAKE AND MODEL OF AIRPLANE.
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; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 790 hours in all; 12 in this make and model; 39 in the last 90 days; 15 in the last 30 days; 87 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, January 2, 2000
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2D (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Go Leasing Company
The flight
- Departed from: MHR Manhattan KS at 10:30 pm
- Destination: I67 Harrison OH
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 290° at 15 knots
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 8,000 ft; scat at 2,500 ft
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Other NTSB records under N21662 the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number NYC91LA169.