Cessna 172RG accident near Lee'S Summit, Missouri, August 17, 1985
On August 17, 1985 at about 2:00 am local time, a Cessna 172RG, registered N4772R, was substantially damaged in an accident near Lee'S Summit, Missouri (Mccomas-Lee'S Summit Muni 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
- August 17, 1985 · about 2:00 am local time
- Place
- Lee'S Summit, Missouri · Mccomas-Lee'S Summit Muni · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172RG · all 172RGs on the register
- Registration
- N4772R · registry record · serial 172RG0027
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT REPORTED THAT THE ENG START & RUN-UP WERE NORMAL BEFORE HE TOOK OFF ON A NIGHT CURRENCY & PROFICIENCY FLT. AFTER 2 NORMAL TAKEOFFS & FULL STOPS, HE MADE A 3RD TAKEOFF.HE CLIMBED TO 1000 FT AGL ON A X-WIND LEG, REDUCED POWER TO 20' MANIFOLD PRESSURE & MOVED CARB HEAT CONTROL 'ON' & INITIATED A TURN. WHILE TURNING, THE ENG SUDDENLY STOPPED. UNABLE TO REACH THE RWY, THE PLT LANDED IN A SOFT, MUSHY MILO FIELD AT NIGHT. DURING THE LANDING, THE ACFT NOSED OVER. AN EXAM REVEALED THE CARB HEAT SHROUD HAD BROKEN OFF ITS MOUNTING ATTACHMENT. ALSO, THE FLEXIBLE HOSE FROM THE CARB HEAT AIR SHROUD TO THE CARB WAS ALMOST COLLAPSED. ADDITIONALLY, THE TEMP & DEW POINT WERE 78 & 73 DEGS, RESPECTFULLY. ACCORDING TO ICING PROBABILITY CHARTS, CONDITIONS WERE CONDUCIVE TO CARB ICE.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 663 hours in all; 84 in this make and model; 31 in the last 90 days; 497 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,935 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 7, 1985; 72 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,650 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-F1A6 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 3,000 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 080° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 1,300 ft
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 73°F (23°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
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.