Cessna 172N accident near Clayton, Georgia, October 22, 1985
On October 22, 1985 at about 6:08 pm local time, a Cessna 172N, registered N3177E, was destroyed in an accident near Clayton, Georgia. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
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
- October 22, 1985 · about 6:08 pm local time
- Place
- Clayton, Georgia · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172N · all 172Ns on the register
- Registration
- N3177E · no longer on the register · serial 1721462
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT AND HIS PASSENGER SHOWED UP FOR THE SECOND DAY IN A ROW AND CHECKED THE WEATHER FOR THE RETURN TRIP TO FLORIDA. THEY FOUND THE WEATHER VFR AT THE AIRPORT. AN EMPLOYEE OF THE FBO TOOK THE PILOT OUTSIDE AND POINTED OUT THAT THE MOUNTAINS TO THE SOUTH WERE STILL PARTIALLY COVERED BY CLOUDS. THE PILOT TOLD HIM TO NOT MENTION THIS FACT TO THE PILOTS WIFE. THE PILOT REPORTED AFTER TAKE OFF THAT HE WAS AT 3000 FEET AND THE WEATHER WAS CLEAR. THE AIRCRAFT WAS LATER SEEN AT LOW LEVEL OVER A TOWN TO THE SOUTH. NEXT IT WAS HEARD ABOVE OR IN THE CLOUDS NEAR GLASSY MOUNTAIN. THE ENGINE WAS HEARD TO INCREASE IN RPM A FEW SECONDS PRIOR TO THE SOUND OF IMPACT.
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: 152 hours in all; 27 in this make and model; 27 in the last 90 days; 6 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,333 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 7, 1985; 58 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-H2AD (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: IAS Franklin NC at 5:30 pm
- Destination: PIE St.Petersburg FL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 130° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 2 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 400 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 59°F (15°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:51 pm from AVL, 59 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.