Cessna 172P accident near Danville, Illinois, November 6, 1987
On November 6, 1987 at about 3:57 pm local time, a Cessna 172P, registered N52263, was substantially damaged in an accident near Danville, Illinois. It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. 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 6, 1987 · about 3:57 pm local time
- Place
- Danville, Illinois · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172P · all 172Ps on the register
- Registration
- N52263 · no longer on the register · serial 17274467
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING AN EMERGENCY OFF AIRPORT LANDING, SUBSEQUENT TO A POWER FAILURE, THE AIRCRAFT EXPERIENCED A NOSE OVER AND SUFFERED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE. THE PILOT REPORTED NO INJURIES. INVESTIGATION AFTER THE ACCIDENT REVEALED A VALVE STICKING PROBLEM IN THE ENGINE. DURING THE POST ACC EXAM THE ENG WOULD RUN AT HIGH SETTING BUT QUIT WHEN REDUCED TO CRUISE PWR. THE VALVE STEM CLEARANCES WERE FOUND TO MEET SPECS HOWEVER THERE WERE EXCESSIVE CARBON DEPOSITS AT THE BASE OF THE STEMS ON THE INTAKE VALVES. THE ENGINE HAD BEEN OVERHAULED 350 HOURS PREVIOUSLY AND HAD A 100 HOUR INSPECTION 49 HOURS PREVIOUSLY.
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: 60 hours in all; 24 in this make and model; 15 in the last 90 days; 33 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,529 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 29, 1987; 49 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,400 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-D2J (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: DNV Danville IL at 3:50 pm
- Destination: MTO Mattoon IL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 190° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 8,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 45°F (7°C), dew point 28°F (-2°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:45 pm from CMI, 38 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.