Cessna 172N accident near Leeds, Alabama, May 20, 1984
On May 20, 1984 at about 4:40 pm local time, a Cessna 172N, registered N734ZP, was substantially damaged in an accident near Leeds, Alabama. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 3 people were seriously injured. 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
- May 20, 1984 · about 4:40 pm local time
- Place
- Leeds, Alabama · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172N · all 172Ns on the register
- Registration
- N734ZP · no longer on the register · serial 17269247
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT MADE A FLT OF ABOUT 30 MIN TO PRACTICE LANDINGS, THEN LANDED TO PICK UP 2 PASSENGERS. ABOUT 10 MIN AFTER TAKING OFF ON THE 2ND FLT, HE BEGAN HAVING SYMPTOMS OF A MEDICAL PROBLEM. HE SAID HE FELT HOT & THE AIR FELT STAGNANT & STALE. THE VENTS & A WINDOW WERE OPENED & HE BEGAN RETURNING TO THE ARPT. HE ATTEMPTED TO TUNE THE RADIO, BUT COULD NOT FIND THE FREQ. SEVERAL TIMES, HE BLACKED OUT & REGAINED CONSCIOUSNESS. A SHORT TIME BEFORE THE ACCIDENT, A WITNESS SAW THE ACFT FLYING VERY LOW. HE STATED THAT THE PLT WAS 'WORKING THE THROTTLE & DIPPING THE PLANE' BUT REPORTED THE ENG RAN SMOOTH AT HI & LOW POWER. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH TREES & CRASHED. ALL 3 OCCUPANTS WERE TRANSPORTED TO A HOSPITAL. THE PLT'S MEDICAL PROBLEM WAS DIAGNOSED AS VASOVAGAL SYNCOPE. REPORTEDLY, SIMILAR EPISODES BEGAN WHEN THE PLT WAS 14 TO 15 YRS OLD & THE EPISODES HAD BEEN ASSOCIATED WITH EXTREME NERVOUSNESS, SWEATING & PALPITATIONS. THE PLT'S MEDICAL CERTIFICATE WAS DATED 3/3/82.
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: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (expired)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-H2AD (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: BHM Birmingham AL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 3,000 ft; not recorded at 3,000 ft
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:58 pm from BHM, 10 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
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.