Cessna 172 accident near Kings Mountain, North Carolina, December 26, 1985
On December 26, 1985 at about 9:30 pm local time, a Cessna 172, registered N7300A, was substantially damaged in an accident near Kings Mountain, North Carolina. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 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
- December 26, 1985 · about 9:30 pm local time
- Place
- Kings Mountain, North Carolina · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172 · all 172s on the register
- Registration
- N7300A · no longer on the register · serial 29400
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT HAD BEEN MOORED ON AN OPEN RAMP IN EXTREMELY COLD TEMPERTURES. DURING PREFLIGHT THE PLT FOUND THAT THE FUEL STRAINER DRAIN WOULD NOT CLOSE AND ONE WING TANK DRAIN WOULD NOT OPEN. A MECHANIC ATTEMPTED TO REPAIR THE LEAKING STRAINER BUT COULD NOT STOP FUEL FROM FLOWING BY USE OF THE SELECTOR VALVE. A PLUG WAS PLACED IN THE STRAINER TO MINIMIZE THE LEAK AND THE PLT DECIDED TO FLY TO HIS HOMEBASE TO MAKE THE NECESSARY REPAIRS. ABOUT 15 MINUTES INTO THE FLT, THE ACFT EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF POWER REQUIRING A FORCED LANDING. INSPECTION OF THE FUEL SYSTEM INDICATED THE PRESENCE OF WATER IN THE SELECTOR VALVE.
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: 300 hours in all; 279 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,664 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 29, 1985
- Maximum gross weight: 2,200 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-300-A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: RUQ Salisbury NC at 9:00 pm
- Destination: 18A Franklin County GA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 240° at 15 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 19°F (-7°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.