Cessna 172G accident near Tuskegee, Alabama, January 9, 1987
On January 9, 1987, a Cessna 172G, registered N3971L, was substantially damaged in an accident near Tuskegee, Alabama (Tuskegee airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. 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
- January 9, 1987
- Place
- Tuskegee, Alabama · Tuskegee · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172G · all 172Gs on the register
- Registration
- N3971L · registry record · serial 17254140
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING A TOUCH AND GO ATTEMPT, THE PILOT EXPERIENDED AN ENGINE FAILURE SHORTLY AFTER LIFTOFF. THE PILOT SAFELY LANDED ON THE RUNWAY, BUT DID NOT HAVE SUFFICIENT RUNWAY TO STOP THE AIRCRAFT BEFORE RUNNING OFF THE DEPARTURE END OF 31. THE AIRCRAFT NOSED OVER INTO A DITCH. THE WRECKAGE EXAMINATION DISCLOSED THAT VISIBLE CONTAMINATES WERE PRESENT IN THE FUEL FILTER AND CARBURETOR BOWL. THERE WAS AN UNDISCLOSED AMOUNT OF FUEL FOUND IN THE FUEL SYSTEM.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine
- Flight time: 50,000 hours in all; 10,000 in this make and model; 50 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,712 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 22, 1985; 160 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,500 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-300-D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 31, 5,000 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 290° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 57°F (14°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:48 pm from MGM, 43 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.
Other NTSB records under N3971L the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.