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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

NTSB Reports is an independent research and search tool for public aviation accident and incident records. It brings NTSB aviation reports, structured fields, docket files, extracted figures, photos, videos, and update history into one searchable interface.

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April 5, 1987 · Cessna 172 · N79179

Muscatine, IA

Overview

Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
April 5, 1987
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (2 uninjured)
Location
Muscatine, IA
Aircraft
Cessna 172
Tail Number
N79179
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
MKC87LA076

THE GRASS RUNWAY WAS 1300 FEET LONG. THE WIND WAS 90 DEGREES CROSS AT 5 KNOTS, GUSTS TO 20 KTS. THE INSTRUCTOR SAID THEY HAD A WIND SHIFT AND THEN THEY HIT A SOFT SPOT NEAR THE END OF THE RUNWAY WHICH SLOWED THEM. THE ELEVATOR AND STABILIZER CAUGHT ON A BARBED WIRE FENCE. THE AIRPLANE ENDED UP IN A DITCH BETWEEN THE FENCE AND A ROAD.

Full Narrative

THE GRASS RUNWAY WAS 1300 FEET LONG. THE WIND WAS 90 DEGREES CROSS AT 5 KNOTS, GUSTS TO 20 KTS. THE INSTRUCTOR SAID THEY HAD A WIND SHIFT AND THEN THEY HIT A SOFT SPOT NEAR THE END OF THE RUNWAY WHICH SLOWED THEM. THE ELEVATOR AND STABILIZER CAUGHT ON A BARBED WIRE FENCE. THE AIRPLANE ENDED UP IN A DITCH BETWEEN THE FENCE AND A ROAD.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time14:10 CDT
Nearest AirportHenry Rahlf'S Farm Strip (0nm W)
Runway27
Runway Length1300 ft
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftCessna 172
Tail NumberN79179
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · O-320 · Reciprocating · 150
Seats4

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (2 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured2
Total2
Crew 1Age 42 · Second Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind360° @ 5 kt, gusting 20 kt
Visibility15 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point55 / 0 C
Altimeter30.00 inHg
Weather SourceWIT

Appendix: Source Data