Cessna 172RG accident near Prospect, Kentucky, September 13, 1982
On September 13, 1982 at about 9:30 pm local time, a Cessna 172RG, registered N5115U, was substantially damaged in an accident near Prospect, Kentucky. It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
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
- September 13, 1982 · about 9:30 pm local time
- Place
- Prospect, Kentucky · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172RG · all 172RGs on the register
- Registration
- N5115U · registry record · serial 172RG0244
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT WAS RETURNING TO HIS DEPARTURE POINT DUE TO ENCOUNTERING ROUGH WX. WHILE DESCENDING TO 4,000 FT FOR AN ILS APPROACH THE PLT EXPERIENCED A TOTAL ELECTRICAL FAILURE. THE PLT ELECTED TO DESCEND TO VFR CONDITIONS & BROKE OUT ABOUT 100 FT AGL. THE PLT LANDED IN AN OPEN FIELD, STRUCK A DITCH & OVERTURNED. EXAMINATION OF THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM REVEALED ONE ALTERNATOR BRUSH COMPLETELY WORN WITH EVIDENCE OF ROTATIONAL GRINDING ON THE COMMUTATOR BARS.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 299 hours in all; 24 in this make and model; 98 in the last 90 days; 266 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 789 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 28 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,650 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-F1A6 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Louisville KY at 4:00 pm
- Destination: Tri City TN
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 1 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; not recorded
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
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.