Cessna 172 accident near Atlantic Ocean, AO, August 26, 1995
On August 26, 1995 at about 11:33 pm local time, a Cessna 172, registered N50860, was destroyed in an accident near Atlantic Ocean, AO. 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 FAILURE OF THE OIL LUBRICATION SYSTEM FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE LACK OF SUITABLE TERRAIN FOR A FORCED LANDING.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 26, 1995 · about 11:33 pm local time
- Place
- Atlantic Ocean, AO
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172 · all 172s on the register
- Registration
- N50860 · registry record · serial 74227
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT STATED THAT THE ENGINE BEGAN TO LOSE POWER WHILE OVER THE OCEAN ABOUT 35 MILES EAST OF THE DESTINATION OF WEST PALM BEACH, FLORIDA. HE INITIATED A GLIDE AND PREPARED FOR DITCHING. JUST BEFORE IMPACT HE NOTED OIL ON THE WINDSHIELD AND COWLING. AFTER DITCHING HE EXITED THE AIRPLANE, INFLATED HIS LIFEVEST, AND WAS RESCUED SHORTLY THEREAFTER.
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: airline transport pilot, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,130 hours in all; 600 in this make and model; 85 in the last 90 days; 22 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 7,056 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 26, 1995; 67 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,400 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O320-D2J (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MYGF Freeport OF at 10:30 pm
- Destination: PBI West Palm Beach FL
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Wind: from 180° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 12 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 73°F (23°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:00 pm from PBI, 24 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.