Piper J5A accident near Cleveland, Georgia, June 20, 1985
On June 20, 1985 at about 10:15 pm local time, a Piper J5A, registered N35612, was substantially damaged in an accident near Cleveland, Georgia. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed and 1 person was 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
- June 20, 1985 · about 10:15 pm local time
- Place
- Cleveland, Georgia · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed and 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper J5A · all J5As on the register
- Registration
- N35612 · no longer on the register · serial 5-602
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT TOOK OFF FROM A PRIVATE STRIP WITH HIS 5 YR OLD DAUGHTER ON BOARD. HE THEN MADE SEVERAL LOW PASSES BY A GUEST HOUSE SO THAT HIS DAUGHTER COULD WAVE TO HER GRANDPARENTS. THE ACFT WAS LAST SEEN HEADED GENERALLY IN A NORTHERLY DIRECTION WHEN IT BANKED SHARPLY TO THE RIGHT, THEN IT DISAPPEARED BEHIND TREES. IMPACT OCCURRED IN A STEEP NOSE-DOWN ATTITUDE. THERE WAS AN ABSENCE OF TORSIONAL DAMAGE TO THE PROPELLER; ONE BLADE WAS STRAIGHT & THE OTHER BLADE WAS BENT AFT. VIRTUALLY NO FUEL WAS FOUND IN THE TANKS, LINES & CARBURETOR. NO PREIMPACT PART FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION WAS FND. DURING AN OPERATIONAL CHECK WITH A REPLACEMENT PROPELLER, THE ENG WAS RUN TO 2325 RPM. A CHECK OF THE PLT'S BLOOD SHOWED AN ALCOHOL LVL OF 0.040%.
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, flight engineer
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 20,000 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,022 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 1,450 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental A-75 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Cleveland GA at 10:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 330° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:50 pm from FTY, 75 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.