Cessna 172 accident near Sykeston, North Dakota, July 19, 1985
On July 19, 1985 at about 3:00 pm local time, a Cessna 172, registered N739GA, was substantially damaged in an accident near Sykeston, North Dakota. It was a business 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
- July 19, 1985 · about 3:00 pm local time
- Place
- Sykeston, North Dakota · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172 · all 172s on the register
- Registration
- N739GA · no longer on the register · serial 17270521
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT SAID HE MADE A NORMAL LANDING ON AN AERIAL APPLICATION AIRSTRIP. DURING THE ROLLOUT THE PLT SPOTTED AN UNMARKED MAIL BOX. THE PLT SAID HE SWERVED TO AVOID COLLIDING WITH THE MAIL BOX. THE ACFT WENT OFF THE SIDE OF THE STRIP AND INTO A FIELD. THE PLT SAID HE WAS NOT TOLD THAT THE OBSTRUCTION HAD BEEN INSTALLED.
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: 271 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,202 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 8, 1985; 47 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-H2AD (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Montpelier ND at 2:10 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0, 3,000 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 300° at 5 knots, gusting 7
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.