Cessna 172N accident near Fort Myers, Florida, April 22, 1985
On April 22, 1985 at about 9:30 pm local time, a Cessna 172N, registered N739DA, was substantially damaged in an accident near Fort Myers, Florida (Seair airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was 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
- April 22, 1985 · about 9:30 pm local time
- Place
- Fort Myers, Florida · Seair · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172N · all 172Ns on the register
- Registration
- N739DA · no longer on the register · serial 17270450
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
PLT STATED THAT ON TAKEOFF GROUND RUN FROM A TURF RUNWAY HE FELT SEVERE VIBRATION IN THE NOSE GEAR AND LIFTED IT OFF THE GROUND. AS HE DID HE THOUGHT HE FELT A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER AN ABORTED THE TAKEOFF. BEFORE THE AIRCRAFT COULD BE STOPPED IT OVERRAN THE RUNWAY INTO THE GULF OF MEXICO. POST CRASH INSPECTION OF THE AIRCRAFTS NOSE GEAR AND ENGINE REVEALED NO EVIDENCE OF PRECRASH MECHANICAL FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION. THE AIRPORT OPERATOR STATED THAT THE WINDS WERE OUT OF THE WEST AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT AND THAT THE FLIGHT DEPARTED TO EAST. WIND WERE APPROXIMATELY 10 KNOTS, AND THIS WOULD HAVE GIVEN THE FLIGHT A 10 KNOT TAILWIND AT DEPARTURE. PROPER SOFTFIELD TAKEOFF TECHNIQUE WAS NOT USED.
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: student
- Flight time: 108 hours in all; 108 in this make and model; 28 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,694 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 2, 1985; 18 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-H2AD (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: FMY Fort Myers FL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 9, 2,200 ft by 65 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 090° at 14 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 4,100 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 64°F (18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:49 pm from FMY, 15 miles away
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.