Cessna 172N accident near Vichy, Missouri, September 1, 1986
On September 1, 1986 at about 4:00 am local time, a Cessna 172N, registered N738CH, was substantially damaged in an accident near Vichy, Missouri. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 4 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
- September 1, 1986 · about 4:00 am local time
- Place
- Vichy, Missouri · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172N · all 172Ns on the register
- Registration
- N738CH · no longer on the register · serial 17269868
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT STATED THAT THE AIRCRAFT'S AMMETER INDICATED THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WAS DISCHARGING WHILE AT CRUISE FIVE MILES WEST OF ROLLA NATIONAL AIRPORT, MISSOURI, AND THAT HE DECIDED TO CONTINUE TO HIS DESTINATION AIRPORT. FIFTEEN MILES EAST OF ROLLA NATIONAL AIRPORT, THE AIRCRAFT EXPERIENCED A TOTAL ELECTRICAL FAILURE AND A DECISION WAS MADE TO TURN BACK AND LAND AT ROLLA AIRPORT. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE ATTEMPTED TO LAND ON WHAT HE THROUGH WAS A RUNWAY; HOWEVER, IT TURNED OUT TO BE A ROAD AND THE AIRCRAFT GROUND LOOPED INTO A DITCH.
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: 181 hours in all; 23 in this make and model; 8 in the last 90 days; 126 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,730 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 30, 1986
- Maximum gross weight: 2,150 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-H2AD (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: H21 Camdenton MO at 3:00 am
- Destination: SUS St. Louis MO
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 100° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 8 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; clear
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:48 am from VIH, 75 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
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.