Cessna 172N accident near Clanton, Alabama, December 22, 1982
On December 22, 1982 at about 8:15 pm local time, a Cessna 172N, registered N609CW, was destroyed in an accident near Clanton, Alabama. It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. 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
- December 22, 1982 · about 8:15 pm local time
- Place
- Clanton, Alabama · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172N · all 172Ns on the register
- Registration
- N609CW · no longer on the register
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT WAS OBSERVED IN A HIGH SPEED GLIDE TO TOUCH DOWN BRIEFLY IN A PASTURE AT THE TOP OF A KNOLL. IT THEN DROPPED BELOW THE RISE & CRASHED IN A WOODED AREA ADJACENT TO THE PASTURE. EXAMINATION OF THE ENG SHOWED A CRACK EXTENDING FROM THE TOP FORWARD HOLD-DOWN BOLT ON THE RIGHT FRONT CYLINDER THROUGH THE PUSH ROD OPENING TO THE TOP OF THE CRANKCASE. THE TOP FORWARD HOLD-DOWN BOLT WAS SHEARED OFF & CAME LOOSE WHEN TOUCHED. THERE WAS ALSO A CRACK ON THE LEFT SIDE EXTENDING FROM APPROXIMATELY 1 INCH AFT OF THE FRONT CYLINDER HOLD-DOWN BOLT UPWARD BETWEEN THE PUSH ROD HOUSINGS TO THE TOP OF THE CRANKCASE. TEAR DOWN OF THE ENG REVEALED THE OIL PUMP DRIVE GEAR FAILED.
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: student
- Flight time: 17 hours in all; 17 in this make and model; 18 in the last 90 days; 4 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 239 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 87 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,150 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-H2AD (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: Clanton AL
- Destination: Clanton AL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 260° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; clear
- Temperature: 142°F (61°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.