The U.S. aircraft register, updated daily
Accidents · NTSB ATL85LA218 · Preliminary: the investigation is not finished

Cessna 177 accident near Stanton, Kentucky, July 17, 1985

On July 17, 1985 at about 9:15 pm local time, a Cessna 177, registered N3150T, was substantially damaged in an accident near Stanton, Kentucky (Stanton airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. 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
July 17, 1985 · about 9:15 pm local time
Place
Stanton, Kentucky · Stanton · map
Type
Accident
Injuries
No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
Weather
visual conditions (good weather)
Aircraft
Cessna 177 · all 177s on the register
Registration
N3150T · no longer on the register · serial 17700450
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)

The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record

THE PILOT REPORTED THAT DURING TAKEOFF, HE BELIEVED THAT THE FLIGHT CONTROLS WERE NOT RESPONDING TO CONTROL INPUTS. MOMENTS AFTER LIFT-OFF, HE ABORTED THE TAKEOFF. THE AIRPLANE CONTINUED OFF THE DEPARTURE END OF THE RUNWAY, WHERE THE NOSE GEAR AND ENGINE SUPPORT STRUCTURE WERE DAMAGED.

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: 55 hours in all; 10 in this make and model; 5 in the last 90 days
  • Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
  • Seat: left

The aircraft

  • Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
  • Maximum gross weight: 2,500 lb
  • Seats: 4
  • Landing gear: fixed
  • Engine: Lycoming O-320 (piston); 0 hours total

The flight

  • Departed from: Frankfort KY at 7:45 pm
  • Flight plan: none
  • Runway 0, 3,000 ft by 75 ft

Weather at the time

  • Light: dawn
  • Wind: at 9 knots
  • Visibility: 7 statute miles
  • Sky: scat at 4,000 ft
  • Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)

Injuries

FatalSeriousMinorNone
Crew1
Passengers1

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.

Other NTSB records under N3150T the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time

1986-09-06ATL86LA252 · accident near Harrodsburg, KY · substantial damage · no injuries

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.