Cessna 172N accident near Columbus, Ohio, July 17, 1991
On July 17, 1991 at about 3:30 am local time, a Cessna 172N, registered N738VP, was substantially damaged in an accident near Columbus, Ohio (Columbus airport). 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 FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN AN ADEQUATE VISUAL LOOKOUT WHICH RESULTED IN A GROUND COLLISION WITH A PARKED AIRCRAFT. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO TAXI ON THE TAXIWAY CENTERLINE AND NIGHT CONDITIONS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 17, 1991 · about 3:30 am local time
- Place
- Columbus, Ohio · Columbus · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172N · all 172Ns on the register
- Registration
- N738VP · registry record · serial 172270274
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT WAS TAXIING AT NIGHT WHEN HE STRUCK THE TAIL OF A PARKED AIRPLANE WITH HIS RIGHT WING. THE FAA SAID THE RAMP AREA WAS NOT VISIBLE FROM THE CONTROL TOWER. THE PILOT WAS USING THE TAXI LIGHT, HOWEVER HIS AIRPLANE WAS 60 FEET TO THE RIGHT OF THE TAXIWAY CENTERLINE WHEN THE COLLISION OCCURRED.
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: 120 hours in all; 30 in this make and model; 4 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days; 80 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ 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 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Central Skyport, INC.
The flight
- Departed from: SKY Sandusky OH at 2:00 am
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 0°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.