Cessna 172D accident near Oliver Springs, Tennessee, April 1, 1987
On April 1, 1987 at about 10:51 pm local time, a Cessna 172D, registered N2510Y, was substantially damaged in an accident near Oliver Springs, Tennessee (Broken S. Ranch airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. 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
- April 1, 1987 · about 10:51 pm local time
- Place
- Oliver Springs, Tennessee · Broken S. Ranch · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172D · all 172Ds on the register
- Registration
- N2510Y · registry record · serial 17249810
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT REPORTED THAT THE ACFT ENCOUNTERED HEAVY TURBULENCE AND A STRONG GUSTY X-WIND CLOSE TO THE GROUND WHILE ON SHORT FINAL TO HIS PRIVATE AIRSTRIP. THE PLT ATTEMPTED A GO-AROUND AND ENCOUNTERED 'EXTREMELY HEAVY TURBULENCE' DURING A TURNING CLIMBOUT THROUGH AND OVER MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN. THE ACFT SUBSEQUENTLY FELL BELOW A RIDGE INTO A HOLLOW WHERE IT IMPACTED TREES.
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: 2,629 hours in all; 643 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,450 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 21, 1986
- Maximum gross weight: 2,150 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-300-C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: RKW Rockwood TN
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0, 1,460 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 240° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 54°F (12°C), dew point 28°F (-2°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:48 pm from TYS, 26 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.