Cessna 172G accident near Evansville, Indiana, November 22, 1986
On November 22, 1986 at about 1:13 am local time, a Cessna 172G, registered N3871L, was substantially damaged in an accident near Evansville, Indiana (Evansville Dress Regional airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 3 others were unhurt. 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
- November 22, 1986 · about 1:13 am local time
- Place
- Evansville, Indiana · Evansville Dress Regional · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 3 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172G · all 172Gs on the register
- Registration
- N3871L · no longer on the register · serial 17254040
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
ACCORDING TO THE PLT, JUST AFTER STARTING A DESCENT FROM 300O FEET, WHILE INBOUND TO EVANSVILLE DRESS REGIONAL AIRPORT(EVV), THE ENGINE 'SUDDENLY AND WITHOUT WARNING QUIT.' THE PLT STATED THAT AFTER DECIDING HE COULD NOT MAKE EVV, HE TURNED LEFT AND SET UP A FINAL APCH FOR A WAREHOUSE PARKING AREA. THE PLT STATED THAT APRX THREE FEET AFTER TOUCHDOWN THE ACFT STRUCK A SECURITY FENCE AND THE ACFT FLIPPED OVER. MINIMAL FUEL LEAKAGE OCCURRED AFTER THE CRASH AND THE FUEL TANKS WERE DRAINED. THE LEFT TANK CONTAINED APRX 1 1/2 GALLONS AND THE RIGHT TANK HELD ABOUT 3/4 OF A GALLON. APRX ONE OUNCE OF FUEL WAS EVIDENCED IN THE CARBURETOR BOWL AND ABOUT ONE OUNCE WAS DETECTED IN THE FUEL STRAINER. THE TWO FUEL TANKS IN THIS ACFT HOLD A TOTAL OF 42 GALLONS, THREE OF WHICH ARE UNUSABLE. WHEN POWER WAS APPLIED, THE RIGHT FUEL INDICATOR READ 3/4 OF A TANK AND THE LEFT FUEL INDICATOR DISPLAYED AN EMPTY READING.
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: 136 hours in all; 42 in this make and model; 13 in the last 90 days; 85 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, May 31, 1986
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-300-D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: WV12 S. Charleston WV at 10:15 pm
- Destination: EVV Evansville IN
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: night, bright
- Wind: from 080° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 8 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 28°F (-2°C), dew point 27°F (-3°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:21 am from EVV, 1 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
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.
Other NTSB records under N3871L the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.