Cessna 172P accident near Marion, North Carolina, June 19, 1987
On June 19, 1987 at about 8:25 pm local time, a Cessna 172P, registered N52575, was substantially damaged in an accident near Marion, North Carolina (Shiflet Field). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person 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
- June 19, 1987 · about 8:25 pm local time
- Place
- Marion, North Carolina · Shiflet Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172P · all 172Ps on the register
- Registration
- N52575 · registry record · serial 17274558
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT OVERRAN THE RWY END WHILE THE STUDENT PLT WAS ATTEMPTING A NO-FLAP LDG. THE ACFT IMPACTED A BERM AT THE END OF THE RWY AND SUBSEQUENTLY CAME TO REST IN A CREEK. THE STUDENT PLT REPORTED THAT THE ACFT HAD INITIALLY TOUCHED DOWN ABOUT MID-FIELD ON THE TURF RWY, AND THAT THE AIRSPEED WAS ABOUT 75 KTS (NORMAL FINAL APPROACH SPEED IS 65 KTS). THE ACFT 'BALLOONED' AFTER TOUCHDOWN, AND THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO REDUCE THE AIRSPEED BY LOWERING THE FLAPS 10 DEGREES. HE APPLIED FULL BRAKING AFTER THE ACFT TOUCHED DOWN AGAIN, BUT WAS UNABLE TO PREVENT THE ACFT FROM RUNNING OFF THE END OF THE RWY. HE NOTED THAT THE RWY WAS 'DAMP' AT THE TIME. HE HAD MADE SEVERAL SUCCESSFUL FULL-STOP LDGS ON THIS RWY SHORTLY BEFORE THE ACCIDENT. THE STUDENT PILOT HAD ABOUT 6 HOURS TOTAL SOLO TIME, ALL OF WHICH WAS ACQUIRED IN THIS MODEL ACFT.
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: student
- Flight time: 41 hours in all; 22 in this make and model; 11 in the last 90 days; 6 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,124 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, February 6, 1987; 4 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,150 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-D2J (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 10, 3,340 ft by 180 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 3,000 ft
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.