Cessna 172N accident near Halls, Tennessee, September 21, 1985
On September 21, 1985 at about 5:30 pm local time, a Cessna 172N, registered N2858E, was substantially damaged in an accident near Halls, Tennessee (Arnold Field). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed and 2 people had minor injuries. 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
- September 21, 1985 · about 5:30 pm local time
- Place
- Halls, Tennessee · Arnold Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed and 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172N · all 172Ns on the register
- Registration
- N2858E · no longer on the register · serial 17271349
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PRIVATE PILOT HAD JUST LEVELED OFF AT 2500 FEET AND POINTED OUT THE OLD NAVAL BASE TO HIS RIGHT FRONT SEAT PASSENGER WHEN HE SLUMPED OVER THE YOKE. THE PASSENGER IN THE REAR SEAT HELD THE PILOT OFF THE CONTROLS WHILE HER NON-PILOT HUSBAND ATTEMPTED TO LAND THE AIRCRAFT. HE MISSED THE TAXIWAY ON THE OLD NAVAL BASE AND ATTEMPTED TO LAND IN A COTTON FIELD. HE SPOTTED A HOUSE AT THE END OF THE FIELD AND TURNED JUST PRIOR TO TOUCHDOWN. THE AIRCRAFT HIT A DITCH AT THE END OF THE FIELD AND BOUNCED UP ON THE TAXIWAY. THE PILOT DID NOT RESPOND TO EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES AND WAS PRONOUNCED DEAD AT THE HOSPITAL.
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
- Flight time: 350 hours in all; 4 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,204 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, September 4, 1985; 20 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-H2AD (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Metro Flying School & Club,Inc
The flight
- Departed from: OLV Olive Branch MS at 4:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 170° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 8,000 ft
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 64°F (18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:50 pm from MEM, 65 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.