# NTSB FTW81DRA20: Cessna 172, N61573, Houston, TX, March 17, 1981

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: March 17, 1981
- Place: Houston, TX · HOUSTON, TX
- Location: 29.7633° N, 95.3633° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Houston, TX, within about 14 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.7633&lon=-95.3633&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report April 29, 1981
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 126982
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW81DRA20
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW81DRA20

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-0500  81/3/17    HOUSTON,TX          CESSNA 172          CR-  0  0  2  INSTRUCTIONAL             COMMERCIAL, FL.INSTR.,
        TIME - 1705                    N61573              PX-  0  0  0  DUAL                      AGE 35, 566 TOTAL HOURS,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            129 IN TYPE, INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - HOUSTON GULF
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          HOUSTON,TX                  LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           NOSE OVER/DOWN                                           TAXI: TO TAKEOFF
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           DUAL STUDENT - IMPROPER COMPENSATION FOR WIND CONDITIONS
           PILOT IN COMMAND - INADEQUATE SUPERVISION OF FLIGHT
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - UNFAVORABLE WIND CONDITIONS
        WEATHER BRIEFING - NO RECORD OF BRIEFING RECEIVED
        WEATHER FORECAST - UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          CLEAR                                                    UNLIMITED
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          5 OR OVER(UNLIMITED)                                     NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          NONE                                                      60
        WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS                                      TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS
           20                                                      VFR
        TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          NONE
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N61573](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N61573), registered now, S/N 17264650 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172
- Registry model: [Cessna 172M](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172m) (registry code 2072418) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Airport: Houston Gulf

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19810317010429A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19810317010429A), Mar 17, 1981: Cessna 172, Houston, TX, Substantial damage. Instructor allowed airplane to leave taxiway while student was operating aircraft. Nosed over, gusty tailwind.

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

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