Cessna 172P accident near Glendale, Arizona, June 22, 1985
On June 22, 1985 at about 3:00 am local time, a Cessna 172P, registered N52789, was substantially damaged in an accident near Glendale, Arizona (Glendale Muni airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 2 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
- June 22, 1985 · about 3:00 am local time
- Place
- Glendale, Arizona · Glendale Muni
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 2 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172P · all 172Ps on the register
- Registration
- N52789 · registry record · serial 17274607
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHEN THE PLT REALIZED HE WAS LOW DURING FINAL APCH TO A LANDING, HE ERRONEOUSLY DECIDED NOT TO USE FULL FLAPS INSTEAD OF ADDING POWER, VREF WAS HIGH AND THE LANDING WAS 3/4 OF THE WAY DOWN THE 2400 FT RWY. BELIEVING HE HAD SUFFICIENT ROOM TO TAKEOFF AGAIN, FULL POWER WAS ADDED, BUT THE CLOSE PROXIMITY OF POWER LINES OFF THE DEPARTURE END OF THE RWY INFLUENCED THE PLT TO ABORT THE GO AROUND. THE ACFT WENT OFF THE END OF THE RWY AND WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED.
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: 120 hours in all; 120 in this make and model; 1 in the last 90 days; 1 in the last 30 days; 19 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,387 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 26, 1984; 84 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,400 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-D2J (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Stellar Executive Serv. INC.
The flight
- Departed from: P19 Chandler AZ at 2:15 am
- Destination: P37
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 17, 2,400 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 99°F (37°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:50 am from PHX, 15 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 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.