Cessna 172 accident near Middletown, Ohio, March 22, 1997
On March 22, 1997 at about 2:00 am local time, a Cessna 172, registered N733LK, was substantially damaged in an accident near Middletown, Ohio (Hook Field Muni). 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).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilot's improper decision to taxi on a motor vehicle access road at night, and his inadequate visual look out which resulted in the collision with an aluminum lamp post. A factor in this accident was the night condition.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 22, 1997 · about 2:00 am local time
- Place
- Middletown, Ohio · Hook Field Muni · 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
- N733LK · registry record · serial 17268373
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
After landing in night visual meteorological conditions, the pilot taxied the airplane along a motor vehicle access road, and the airplane's right wing struck an aluminum lamp post. The pilot stated '...saw hangers where I wanted to be and a road leading up to hangers. Started up road taxing and struck light pole on this road.'
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: 143 hours in all; 135 in this make and model; 84 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 13, 1997
- Maximum gross weight: 2,150 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: ISZ Cincinnati OH
- Destination: MWO OH
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 220° at 14 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 9,000 ft; clear
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:51 am from DAY, 24 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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 N733LK 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.