Aviation Crash Map

Cessna 172XP N736RT

28 March 1989 · Hondo, Texas, United States · Fatal

Summary

On 28 March 1989 at about 09:08 local time, a Cessna 172XP registered N736RT was involved in an accident near Hondo, Texas, United States. 4 people were on board and 4 died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

The record

Date
at 09:08
Classification
Accident
Location
Hondo, Texas, United States
Coordinates
29.3491, -99.1493
Aircraft
Cessna 172XP
Registration
N736RT
Category
Airplane
Engines
1
Operator
Not recorded
Operating rule
Part 91: General Aviation
Purpose of flight
Personal
Phase of flight
Not recorded
Route
Castroville → Carrizo Springs
Aircraft damage
Destroyed
Weather
IMC
Light
Night/Dark
NTSB number
FTW89FA073

People

4 people died.

On board Died Serious Minor Uninjured
4 4 0 0 0

Probable cause

THE PILOT'S DECISION TO DEPART INTO KNOWN ADVERSE WEATHER AND HIS LACK OF INSTRUMENT TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE PILOT ELECTED TO TAKEOFF AFTER BEING TOLD BY THE AIRPORT MANAGER OF AN IMPENDING FRONTAL PASSAGE WITH ASSOCIATED THUNDERSTORMS. HE ALSO WAS INFORMED BY APPROACH CONTROL TO REMAIN ON THE GROUND UNTIL AFTER THE FRONTAL PASSAGE HAD OCCURRED. THE AIRCRAFT COLLIDED WITH TREES, DURING A THUNDERSTORM WITH HEAVY RAIN AND LIGHTNING. NO MECHANICAL MALFUNCTIONS WERE FOUND DURING THE INVESIGATION. THE PILOT WAS NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.

Other Cessna 172 accidents

Date Aircraft Location Operator Outcome Died
17 Mar 1989 Cessna 172M
N80542
Pascagoula, Mississippi, United States - Fatal 2
21 Mar 1989 Cessna 172H
N1480F
Melbourne, Florida, United States - Serious injuries -
2 Jan 1989 Cessna 172
N4440L
Cheyenne, Wyoming, United States
no coordinates
- No injuries -
21 Nov 1989 Cessna 172
N63496
Bremerton, Washington, United States Flight Tech, Inc Minor injuries -
17 Aug 1989 Cessna 172P
N98584
Superior, Wisconsin, United States - Serious injuries -
4 Jan 1989 Cessna 172
N96319
Longmont, Colorado, United States Denver Air Center No injuries -

All 12,209 records for this type

Other accidents in this area

Date Aircraft Location Operator Outcome Died
24 Apr 1989 Cessna 150
N63467
San Antonio, Texas, United States
no coordinates
- No injuries -
27 Apr 1989 Mooney M20J
N201TP
Jasper, Texas, United States Stratton, William A. Serious injuries -
6 Apr 1989 Beechcraft V35B
N17513
Lampasas, Texas, United States Phil P. O'neal Serious injuries -
20 May 1989 Piper PA-24-250
N5874P
Decatur, Texas, United States Frazier, David R. No injuries -
24 May 1989 Beechcraft A36TC
N6760C
Amarillo, Texas, United States
no coordinates
L.l.pownell No injuries -
30 May 1989 Piper PA-32R
N3279Q
Stratford, Texas, United States Sherman Implement Co. No injuries -

All 170,864 records in United States