Cessna 172G accident near Show Low, Arizona, March 27, 1985
On March 27, 1985 at about 8:30 pm local time, a Cessna 172G, registered N3757L, was substantially damaged in an accident near Show Low, Arizona (Show Low Municipal airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were 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
- March 27, 1985 · about 8:30 pm local time
- Place
- Show Low, Arizona · Show Low Municipal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172G · all 172Gs on the register
- Registration
- N3757L · no longer on the register · serial 17253926
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
INSTRUCTOR PLT STATED THAT PRIOR TO DEPARTURE FOR SHOW LOW HE CALLED THE FIXED BASE OPERATOR AT SHOW LOW AND LEARNED THE WINDS WERE CURRENTLY FROM 190 TO 200 DEGREES A 20 T0 30 KNOTS. HE AND HIS STUDENT DEPARTED AND UPON ARRIVING IN THE SHOW LOW AREA LEARNED THAT THE WINDS WERE NOW FROM 180 TO 210 DEGREES AT 30 TO 50 KNOTS. HE PERFORMED THE LANDING AND DURING ROLL OUT WIND LIFTED THE RIGHT WING FLIPPING THE AIRCRAFT OVER.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 900 hours in all; 500 in this make and model; 40 in the last 90 days; 850 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,655 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, August 10, 1984; 83 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-300 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PHX Phoenix AZ at 7:25 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 21, 4,050 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 190° at 30 knots, gusting 40
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 50°F (10°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:30 pm
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
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.