Cessna 172P accident near Phillipsburg, Ohio, April 13, 1985
On April 13, 1985 at about 1:13 am local time, a Cessna 172P, registered N55211, was substantially damaged in an accident near Phillipsburg, Ohio (Phillipsburg airport). It was a business 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
- April 13, 1985 · about 1:13 am local time
- Place
- Phillipsburg, Ohio · Phillipsburg
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172P · all 172Ps on the register
- Registration
- N55211 · registry record · serial 17275135
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING A NIGHT VFR APPROACH TO A STRANGE AIRPORT THE ACFT STRUCK POWER LINES LOCATED ONE-HALF MILE FROM THE END OF THE RWY. THE PLT STATED THAT SHE WAS UNAWARE OF THE WIRES & WAS NOT AWARE THAT HER ACFT HAD COLLIDED WITH THEM UNTIL HER FORWARD PROGRESS WAS HALTED AND HER ACFT STRUCK THE GROUND. WHEN SHE EXITED THE ACFT AFTER THE ACCIDENT SHE WAW THE WIRES WRAPPED AROUND THE NOSE GEAR AND REALIZED WHAT HAD HAPPENED. THE POWER LINE, WHICH IS 30 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND, IS NOT MARKED WITH OBSTRUCTION LIGHTS.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 473 hours in all; 50 in this make and model; 45 in the last 90 days; 320 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 2,400 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 SERIES (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: DEC Decatur IL at 11:30 pm
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 21, 2,750 ft by 34 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 200° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 25,000 ft; scat at 4,000 ft
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 46°F (8°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:50 am from 317, 1 miles away
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.