Cessna 172E accident near Clyde, Ohio, May 3, 1986
On May 3, 1986 at about 5:00 pm local time, a Cessna 172E, registered N3960S, was substantially damaged in an accident near Clyde, Ohio (Weiker Field). 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
- May 3, 1986 · about 5:00 pm local time
- Place
- Clyde, Ohio · Weiker Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172E · all 172Es on the register
- Registration
- N3960S · no longer on the register · serial 172-51160
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT WAS APPROACHING A GRASS AIRSTRIP WHEN THE ENG QUIT.A LANDING SHORT OF THE RWY IN A WHEAT FIELD RESULTED IN A COLLAPSED NOSE GEAR. EXAM OF THE ACFT REVEALED A BIRDS NEST INSIDE THE ENG COWLING, A DEAD MAGNETO, REVERSED 'P' LEADS, AND ONE SHORTED SPARKPLUG. A FUEL SAMPLE DID NOT HAVE THE APPEARANCE OF AVIATION FUEL. THE ACFT DID NOT HAVE A CURRENT ANNUAL INSPECTION RECORDED IN THE LOG BOOK.
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: 1,500 hours in all; 30 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 173 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, March 24, 1985
- Maximum gross weight: 2,150 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-300 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: GQQ Galion OH at 4:45 pm
- Destination: Green Springs OH
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0, 1,745 ft by 125 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 350° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 48°F (9°C), dew point 25°F (-4°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:50 pm from FDY, 30 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.