Cessna 172N accident near St Francis, Maine, May 22, 1992
On May 22, 1992 at about 9:15 pm local time, a Cessna 172N, registered N739GM, was destroyed in an accident near St Francis, Maine (Kelco Tree Farm airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE AIRSPEED, WHICH RESULTED IN AN INADVERTENT STALL. THE WIND CONDITION WAS A RELATED FACTOR.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 22, 1992 · about 9:15 pm local time
- Place
- St Francis, Maine · Kelco Tree Farm
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172N · all 172Ns on the register
- Registration
- N739GM · no longer on the register · serial 17270532
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT REPORTED HE WAS MAKING A LOW PASS OVER A PRIVATE AIRSTRIP AT ABOUT 100 TO 200 FT AGL, WHEN THE AIRCRAFT ENCOUNTERED A WINDSHEAR. AT THAT TIME, HE WAS USING FULL FLAPS AND AN AIRSPEED OF ABOUT 55 TO 60 KNOTS. ACCORDING TO THE PILOT, THE AIRPLANE NOSED DOWN AND STRUCK THE GROUND, DESPITE HIS EFFORTS TO REGAIN CONTROL. AFTER IMPACT, THE AIRCRAFT CAME TO REST AFTER MOVING ONLY ABOUT 5 FT. THE PILOT REPORTED THE WINDS WERE AT 22 GUSTING TO 30 KTS, AND THAT THERE WAS MODERATE TURBULENCE. NO MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION WAS REPORTED.
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: 221 hours in all; 154 in this make and model; 20 in the last 90 days; 12 in the last 30 days; 178 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,122 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, May 18, 1992; 15 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-D2J (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: CAR Caribou ME
- Destination: FVE Frenchville ME
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0, 3,000 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 320° at 22 knots, gusting 30
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 95°F (35°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.
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.