Cessna 172N accident near Miami, Florida, June 22, 1984
On June 22, 1984 at about 4:45 pm local time, a Cessna 172N, registered N738VS, was substantially damaged in an accident near Miami, Florida (Opa Locka West airport). It was a personal 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
- June 22, 1984 · about 4:45 pm local time
- Place
- Miami, Florida · Opa Locka West
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172N · all 172Ns on the register
- Registration
- N738VS · no longer on the register · serial 17270277
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT SAID HE HAD 'CROSS CHANNELED' HIS RADIOS & WAS HAVING COMMUNICATION PROBLEMS. HE DECIDED TO LAND AT THE OPA-LOCKA WEST ARPT. THE ACFT WAS LANDED DOWNWIND & AFTER OVERRUNNING THE END OF THE RWY, IT COLLIDED WITH TERRAIN & WAS 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: 169 hours in all; 169 in this make and model; 150 in the last 90 days; 99 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, April 27, 1984; 32 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-H2AD (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Clark Aircraft Service,Inc.
The flight
- Departed from: OPF Opa Locka FL at 3:30 pm
- Destination: EYW Key West FL
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 9, 3,000 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 238° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 2,500 ft; not recorded at 2,500 ft
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:47 pm from OPF
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.