Cessna 172M accident near Cedar Key, Florida, February 20, 1987
On February 20, 1987 at about 10:05 pm local time, a Cessna 172M, registered N12198, was substantially damaged in an accident near Cedar Key, Florida (George T. Lewis 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
- February 20, 1987 · about 10:05 pm local time
- Place
- Cedar Key, Florida · George T. Lewis · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172M · all 172Ms on the register
- Registration
- N12198 · no longer on the register · serial 17261879
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT WAS ATTEMPTING TO GO AROUND AFTER LANDING FAST, DUE TO A TAIL WIND THAT WAS STRONGER THAT ANTICIPATED. UNABLE TO CLIMB, THE ACFT WAS THEN BLOWN OFF THE RWY, COLLIDED WITH TREES, & CAME TO REST IN THE GULF OF MEXICO.
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: 246 hours in all; 110 in this make and model; 11 in the last 90 days; 246 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,475 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 18, 1986; 35 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: OCF Ocala FL at 9:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 23, 3,400 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Wind: from 040° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 2 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 2,000 ft; scat at 800 ft
- Temperature: 52°F (11°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:55 pm from GNV, 27 miles away
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.