Cessna 172P accident near Pampa, Texas, November 19, 1984
On November 19, 1984 at about 1:30 pm local time, a Cessna 172P, registered N54028, was destroyed in an accident near Pampa, Texas (Perry Lefors airport). It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
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 19, 1984 · about 1:30 pm local time
- Place
- Pampa, Texas · Perry Lefors · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172P · all 172Ps on the register
- Registration
- N54028 · no longer on the register · serial 17274850
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
PREFLIGHT WEATHER BRIEFING SHOWED CLOSEST REPORTING STATION TO DESTINATION BELOW DEST APCH MINIMUM OF I MILE VISIBILITY BUT FCST TO IMPROVE TO 1/2 MI BY ARRIVAL. AREA FREEZING LEVEL FCST AT 3-4000 FT. FLT TO DEST AT 6000 FT WAS ON TOP OF CLOUDS AND UNEVENTFUL. PLT CONTACTED DEST ON UNICOM AND WAS ADVISED OF 'LOW GROUND FOG AND VERY POOR VISIBILITY.' PLT MADE NO FURTHER EFFORT TO CLARIFY CONDITIONS, COMMENCED NDB APPROACH AND ENTERED CLOUDS AT 4000 FT. ACFT STRUCTURAL ICING OCCURRED DURING APPROACH. PLT SIGHTED RUNWAY LIGHTS BUT LOST CONTACT IN TURN TO ADJUST COURSE & EXECUTED A MISSED APPROACH. DUE TO STRUCTURAL ICING, PLT UNABLE TO CLIMB ABOVE 3800 FT, THEN UNABLE TO MAINTAIN ALT AS ICE CONTINUED TO ACCRETE. PLT WAS UNABLE TO ARREST DESCENT BUT ON VISUAL CONTACT WITH GROUND MANUVERED TO A FORCED LANDING IN AN OPEN FIELD. PLT REPORTED CONDITIONS AT DESTINATION WERE ABOVE APPROACH MINIMUMS.
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; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,593 hours in all; 128 in this make and model; 221 in the last 90 days; 1,412 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: None (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 652 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 1, 1984
- Maximum gross weight: 2,150 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-D2J (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: RVS Tulsa OK at 11:00 am
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 17, 5,500 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 360° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 1 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded
- Temperature: 41°F (5°C), dew point 36°F (2°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
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.