Cessna 172RG accident near Labelle, Florida, May 27, 1982
On May 27, 1982 at about 11:30 pm local time, a Cessna 172RG, registered N5143V, was destroyed in an accident near Labelle, Florida (English Field). It was a flight of an unrecorded kind under general aviation rules (Part 91). 3 people had minor injuries. 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
- May 27, 1982 · about 11:30 pm local time
- Place
- Labelle, Florida · English Field
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172RG · all 172RGs on the register
- Registration
- N5143V · no longer on the register · serial 0464
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT AND TWO PASSENGERS PLANNED TO DEPART ON A FLIGHT TO SPOT HOGS FOR HUNTERS. THE AIRCRAFT WAS LOADED WITH ABOUT 50 GALLONS OF FUEL AND WAS NEAR ITS MAXIMUM GROSS WEIGHT. BEFORE TAKEOFF, THE PILOT NOTED THE WIND. HE REPORTED THAT IT WAS LIGHT AND VARIABLE FROM THE EAST-NORTHEAST WITH GUSTS FROM 10 TO 15 KNOTS. DURING A TAKEOFF TO THE NORTH, HE NOTED A CROSSWIND FROM THE RIGHT. HE STATED THAT WHEN THE PLANE WAS NEAR THE END OF THE STRIP, IT FELT LIKE IT WAS READY TO LIFT-OFF, WHEN IT SUDDENLY SETTLED BACK. SUBSEQUENTLY, IT HIT A SMALL TREE AND A MOUND OF SAND OR DIRT. THE TREE WAS LOCATED TO THE LEFT OF THE RUNWAY. A WITNESS REPORTED THAT THERE WAS A LIGHT WIND FROM THE EAST-SOUTHEAST THAT SUDDENLY SHIFTED TO THE SOUTH AND GUSTED FROM 12 TO 15 MPH. HE REPORTED THAT THE WIND SHIFT OCCURRED WHEN THE AIRCRAFT HAD ONLY TRAVELED 300 TO 400 FT ON ITS TAKEOFF ROLL. THE SOUTH END OF THE STRIP WAS PARTIALLY SURROUNDED BY TALL PINE TREES.
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: 690 hours in all; 556 in this make and model; 130 in the last 90 days; 598 as pilot in command; 10 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 927 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 537 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,200 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: Labelle FL at 6:29 pm
- Destination: Labelle FL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 34, 2,600 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; scat at 2,000 ft
- Temperature: 172°F (78°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.