Cessna 172 accident near Leesburg, Florida, July 18, 1985
On July 18, 1985 at about 2:45 am local time, a Cessna 172, registered N3781S, was destroyed in an accident near Leesburg, Florida (Leesburg airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 3 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
- July 18, 1985 · about 2:45 am local time
- Place
- Leesburg, Florida · Leesburg
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 3 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172 · all 172s on the register
- Registration
- N3781S · no longer on the register · serial 17250981
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT EXPERIENCED AN ELECTRICAL FAILURE WHILE ON A NIGHT FLT & WAS UNABLE TO ACTIVATE THE RWY LIGHTS BY KEYING HIS RADIO. HE ELECTED TO LAND ON THE UNLIGHTED RWY WITHOUT ANY LANDING LIGHTS RATHER THAN DIVERT TO ANOTHER ARPT. THE PLT STATED THAT DURING THE APCH TO LAND, HE REALIZED THAT HE WAS NOT LINED UP PROPERLY WITH THE RWY, & WHEN HE ATTEMPTED TO CORRECT THE ACFT'S ALIGNMENT WITH THE RWY, THE RIGHT WING 'LOST LIFT' & STRUCK THE GROUND. LAW INFORCEMENT PERSONNEL REPORTED THAT THE PLT HAD A SLIGHT ODOR OF ALCOHOL ON HIS PERSON; HOWEVER, THE PLT PASSED A PHYSICAL AGILITY SOBRIETY TEST. HE HAD MADE ONLY ONE NIGHT LANDING WITHIN THE PRECEDING 90 DAYS; THUS, HE DID NOT MEET THE REQUIRMENTS OF FAR 61.57 FOR NIGHT RECENCY OF EXPERIENCE.
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: 96 hours in all; 96 in this make and model; 3 in the last 90 days; 71 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,609 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 19, 1985; 2 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,150 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-300-D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: LEE Leesburg FL at 2:15 am
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 13, 4,984 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 180° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 8,000 ft; not recorded at 8,000 ft
- Temperature: 77°F (25°C), dew point 72°F (22°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 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.