Cessna 172M accident near Norwich, Vermont, October 12, 1995
On October 12, 1995 at about 3:51 pm local time, a Cessna 172M, registered N70080, was destroyed in an accident near Norwich, Vermont. It was a flight of an unrecorded kind under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed and 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
loss of engine power for undetermined reason(s), during a low altitude operation. A factor relating to the accident was: the lack of suitable terrain for a forced landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 12, 1995 · about 3:51 pm local time
- Place
- Norwich, Vermont
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed and 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172M · all 172Ms on the register
- Registration
- N70080 · registry record · serial 17267190
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The surviving rear seat passenger/photographer (pax) stated that during a preflight briefing, the pilot indicated that they would fly by a cottage at reduced airspeed and at about 500 feet agl, then they would climb to a higher altitude for more photographs. The pax stated that after they flew by the cottage, he did not hear an application of power to climb as expected. The pax noted their low altitude over the mountainous/hilly terrain, and 'yelled' for the pilot to climb to avoid trees. The pax said the pilot did not respond, but was leaning forward as if to be trying to read or reach something. The airplane impacted trees and fell to the ground. Witnesses on the ground stated that an airplane flew overhead at a low altitude. One witness stated the engine sounded as if it was sputtering; another stated that it was noisy and loud for a small airplane. Postaccident examination revealed no preimpact mechanical anomaly; chordwise scrape marks were found on the propeller blades. The temperature and dew point were 72 and 47 degrees F, respectively. According to icing probability charts, weather conditions were conducive for the formation of carburetor ice. The carburetor heat control was found in the 'in' position, but the engine had become detached during impact, possibly moving the carburetor heat control as it separated from the firewall.
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: 1,294 hours in all; 30 in the last 90 days; 6 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,006 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 3, 1995; 120 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: LEB Lebanon NH at 3:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 46°F (8°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:45 pm from LEB, 10 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 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.