Cessna 172 accident near London, Kentucky, October 3, 1985
On October 3, 1985 at about 10:08 pm local time, a Cessna 172, registered N20273, was substantially damaged in an accident near London, Kentucky (London airport). It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. 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 3, 1985 · about 10:08 pm local time
- Place
- London, Kentucky · London · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172 · all 172s on the register
- Registration
- N20273 · no longer on the register · serial 17261149
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT CRASHED DURING A FORCED LANDING AFTER FUEL EXHAUSTION DURING A X-COUNTRY FLT. THE PLT HAD ENCOUNTERED WX AND IN ATTEMPTING TO REACH AN ALTERNATE ARPT THE ACFT RAN OUT OF FUEL. THE PLT WAS NOT INSTRUMENT RATED AND THE WX AT LONDON WAS 600 FT OVERCAST WITH VISIBILITY 2 MILES IN FOG AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. THE FUEL DRAINED FROM THE ACFT AFTER THE ACCIDENT WAS 1 QT FROM THE LEFT TANK WHICH WAS IN USE AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. THE PLT REPORTED THAT HE RAN THE RT TANK DRY EN ROUTE.
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: 562 hours in all; 15 in this make and model; 63 in the last 90 days; 527 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, September 30, 1985; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2D (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Strongsville City Aviation
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 5, 6,000 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 2 statute miles
- Sky: overcast; not recorded at 600 ft
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:17 pm from LOZ, 2 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.