Cessna C-172 accident near Brownsville, Kentucky, February 8, 1982
On February 8, 1982 at about 11:54 pm local time, a Cessna C-172, registered N13165, was destroyed in an accident near Brownsville, Kentucky (Meredith airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 8, 1982 · about 11:54 pm local time
- Place
- Brownsville, Kentucky · Meredith
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna C-172
- Registration
- N13165 · no longer on the register · serial 172-62543
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE CLIMBING AFTER TAKEOFF, THE PILOT NOTICED SMOKE IN THE COCKPIT. HE REPORTED THAT FLAMES STARTED TO COME IN AS HE WAS TURNING BACK TO THE AIRSTRIP. WHEN HE SAW THAT HE COULD LAND BACK ON THE STRIP, HE REPORTEDLY SHUT- OFF THE FUEL, MASTER SWITCH AND MAGNETOS. A WITNESS REPORTED THAT THE AIRCRAFT TOUCHED DOWN AT ABOUT MID-FIELD. THE PILOT WAS UNABLE TO STOP ON THE RUNWAY. THE AIRCRAFT COLLIDED WITH A TREE AND BARN. THE WITNESS NOTED THAT THE PILOT WAS DAZED AND ASSISTED IN EVACUATING HIM FROM THE AIRCRAFT. AT THAT TIME, THE WITNESS OBSERVED THAT BLUE SPARKS WERE COMING FROM BENEATH THE DASH ON THE PILOT'S SIDE. AFTER THEY MOVED ABOUT 30 FEET FROM THE PLANE, IT BURST INTO FLAMES. THE BARN AND AIRCRAFT WERE DESTROYED BY FIRE.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine
- Flight time: 18,000 hours in all; 3,100 in this make and model; 5 in the last 90 days; 1,800 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Unknown (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire in flight and on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: Brownsville KY at 5:30 pm
- Destination: Hopkinsville KY
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 24, 2,000 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; not recorded
- Temperature: 104°F (40°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.