Cessna 172 accident near Cape Girardeau, Missouri, August 3, 1985
On August 3, 1985 at about 11:45 pm local time, a Cessna 172, registered N54666, was substantially damaged in an accident near Cape Girardeau, Missouri. 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
- August 3, 1985 · about 11:45 pm local time
- Place
- Cape Girardeau, Missouri · map
- 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
- N54666 · no longer on the register · serial 17275032
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE ON A SOLO X-COUNTRY FLT, THE STUDENT PLT BECAME LOST/DISORIENDED. WHEN THE ACFT'S FUEL LEVEL BECAME LOW AT DUSK, THE STUDENT ELECTED TO LAND ON A GRAVEL ROAD. AS THE ACFT WAS ON THE LANDING ROLL-OUT, THE LEFT WING STRUCK A BRACE WIRE FOR A POWER LINE POLE. THE ACFT THEN SPUN AROUND ABOUT 180 DEG & CAME TO REST IN A DITCH. THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED APRX 5 MI FROM THE DESTINATION ARPT. THE STUDENT ADMITTED THAT HE SHOULD HAVE USED HIS RADIO TO OBTAIN ASSISTANCE.
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
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 96 hours in all; 96 in this make and model; 11 in the last 90 days; 25 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,336 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 2, 1985; 5 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,150 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-D2J (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Lazy 8 Flying Club
The flight
- Departed from: K02 Perryville MO at 9:40 pm
- Destination: CGI Cape Girardeau MO
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Wind: from 100° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 4 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 25,000 ft; scat at 8,000 ft
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 72°F (22°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:54 pm from CGI, 5 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.