Cessna A185F accident near Mt Airy, North Carolina, August 23, 1987
On August 23, 1987, a Cessna A185F, registered N3463Y, was substantially damaged in an accident near Mt Airy, North Carolina (Mount Airy-Surry County airport). It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. 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
- August 23, 1987
- Place
- Mt Airy, North Carolina · Mount Airy-Surry County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna A185F · all A185Fs on the register
- Registration
- N3463Y · registry record · serial 18502885
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AFTER CESSNA 185, N3462Y, ENTERED THE TRAFFIC PATTERN FOR RWY 18, THE UNICOM OPERATOR WARNED THE PLT OF ANOTHER ACFT IN THE PATTERN. THE OTHER ACFT WAS A MOONEY MITE, N4129. THE CESSNA PLT CONTD HIS APCH, BUT DIDN'T SEE THE MOONEY MITE UNTIL AFTER THE CESSNA TOUCHED DOWN. WHEN THE CESSNA PLT LOWERED HIS NOSE IN A WHEEL LNDG, HE SAW THE OTHER ACFT COMING FROM THE OPPOSITE DRCTN. THE MOONEY MITE PLT SAID HE WAS ON THE 1ST 1/3 OF RWY 36 WHEN HE SAW THE CESSNA ON THE 1ST 1/3 OF RWY 18. BOTH PLTS STEERED TO THE RIGHT. AS THE CESSNA WENT OFF THE RWY, THE PLT WAS APPLYING FULL BRAKES. HE SAID THE ACFT 'MIRED DOWN IN THE GRASS' & FLIPPED OVER. THE MOONEY MITE DID NOT HAVE AN ELECTRICAL SYSTEM (NO RADIO OR LGTS).THE SUN HAD JUST SET & THE RWY LGTS WERE ON. ACCORDING TO THE MOONEY MITE PLT, THERE WAS STILL 'GOOD LIGHT' & THE VISIBILITY WAS GOOD. THE CESSNA PLT RPRTD THE WIND WAS CALM.
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; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 2,017 hours in all; 23 in this make and model; 25 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 880 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 7, 1987; 35 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,100 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental IO-520-D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: FAY Fayetteville NC at 11:10 pm
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 18, 3,500 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Wind: from 210° at 8 knots, gusting 8
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 86°F (30°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
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.