Cessna 172N accident near Blanchester, Ohio, November 24, 1987
On November 24, 1987 at about 10:40 am local time, a Cessna 172N, registered N5548J, was destroyed in an accident near Blanchester, Ohio. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. 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
- November 24, 1987 · about 10:40 am local time
- Place
- Blanchester, Ohio · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172N · all 172Ns on the register
- Registration
- N5548J · no longer on the register · serial 172-73817
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE AIRCRAFT DEPARTED BEFORE DAWN FROM A PRIVATE SOD AIRSTRIP OWNED BY THE PILOT, AND COLLIDED WITH TREES SHORTLY THEREAFTER. THE PILOT'S WIFE SAID THAT THE AIRSTRIP WAS NOT FOGGY WHEN HER HUSBAND TOOK OFF, BUT THE WITNESS REPORTED THAT THE FOG AT THE ACCIDENT SITE PREVENTED THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT FROM LOCATING THE WRECKAGE, 100 YARDS FROM THE WITNESS' HOUSE, UNTIL ABOUT 0700. THE NEAREST STATION REPORTED IMC CONDITIONS. THE PILOT DID NOT RECEIVE A WEATHER BRIEFING. THE INVESTIGATION FAILED TO DISCLOSE ANY AIRCRAFT SYSTEM MALFUNCTION OR FAILURE. THE PILOT WAS PROPERLY CERTIFICATED AND INSTRUMENT RATED. THE PILOT'S INTENTIONS WERE NOT KNOWN. HOWEVER, HE WAS FLYING TOWARDS THE APPROACH END OF HIS AIRSTRIP. AN AUTOPSY, TAKEN WITH MEDICAL HISTORY OF THE PILOT, INDICATES THAT SOME PHYSICAL PROBLEM MAY HAVE PROMPTED THE PILOT TO ATTEMPT TO LAND IMMEDIATELY.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,447 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (expired)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,218 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 19, 1987
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-H2AD (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Blanchester OH at 10:15 am
- Destination: BAK Columbus IN
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Sky: not recorded
- Temperature: 41°F (5°C), dew point 41°F (5°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:50 am from LUK
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.