Cessna 182H accident near Letohatchee, Alabama, January 24, 1985
On January 24, 1985 at about 10:00 pm local time, a Cessna 182H, registered N2431X, was destroyed in an accident near Letohatchee, Alabama (Dannelly airport). It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were 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
- January 24, 1985 · about 10:00 pm local time
- Place
- Letohatchee, Alabama · Dannelly · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 182H · all 182Hs on the register
- Registration
- N2431X · registry record · serial 18756331
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
ACFT WAS OBSERVED AT LOW ALT DESCENDING ON A NORTHERLY HDG. ABOUT 1.5 MI. 5 OF THE CRASH SITE. ENGINE SOUNDS WERE CHARACTERIZED AS SMOOTH AND NORMAL. ACFT STRUCK A 44000 VOLT X-MISSION LINE PARTING A 5/16IN. DIAMETER HI-STRENGTH STEEL GROUND CABLE AND A 1/0 ALUMINUM/STEEL CONDUCTOR. 18 TURNS OF THE STEEL CABLE WERE REMOVED FROM AROUND THE PROP SHAFT ABOUT 1820 FT OF THE STEEL CABLE WAS PULLED FROM THE SUPPORT STRUCTURES. ACFT CAME TO A STOP ABOUT 457FT PAST THE X-MISSION LINE AND BURNED.
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; instrument: airplane
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,805 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 8, 1984; 38 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,800 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470-P(15) (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: PNS Pensacola FL at 8:55 pm
- Destination: MGM Montgomery AL
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 220° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 10,000 ft
- Temperature: 52°F (11°C), dew point 36°F (2°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:50 pm from MGM, 11 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.