Cessna 172K accident near Plymouth, Massachusetts, February 10, 1982
On February 10, 1982 at about 6:30 pm local time, a Cessna 172K, registered N84330, was substantially damaged in an accident near Plymouth, Massachusetts (Plymouth County 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
- February 10, 1982 · about 6:30 pm local time
- Place
- Plymouth, Massachusetts · Plymouth County
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172K · all 172Ks on the register
- Registration
- N84330 · registry record · serial 17258421
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AFTER ENTERING THE TRAFFIC PATTERN, THE PILOT COMPLETED HIS PRELANDING CHECKLIST WHILE OPPOSITE OF THE NUMBERS ON DOWNWIND. AFTER TURNING TO FINAL APPROACH, THERE WAS A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER. HE STATED THAT HE REACHED DOWN AND SWITCHED THE FUEL SELECTOR WITHOUT LOOKING AT IT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO RESTART THE ENGINE. WITH WINDS GUSTING TO 20 KNOTS, HE WAS UNABLE TO GLIDE TO THE RUNWAY. HE MANEUVERED TO ALIGN THE AIRCRAFT WITH THE DIRECTION AND CONTOUR OF A ROAD FOR LANDING. HOWEVER, DURING THE LANDING, THE WING TIPS STRUCK SMALL TREES. AFTER THE MISHAP, THE FUEL SELECTOR WAS FOUND IN THE OFF POSITION. THE PILOT DID NOT REMEMBER TURNING IT OFF. THE ENGINE RAN NORMALLY DURING A SUBSEQUENT OPERATIONAL CHECK. THE ENGINE WAS TESTED TO SEE HOW LONG IT WOULD RUN AFTER THE FUEL SELECTOR WAS TURNED OFF. AT 2100 RPM, IT CONTINUED OPERATING FOR ABOUT 45 SECONDS. AT 1200 TO 1500 RPM, IT CONTINUED RUNNING ABOUT 70 SECONDS.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 509 hours in all; 230 in this make and model; 28 in the last 90 days; 340 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,114 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,100 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: New Bedford MA at 1:15 pm
- Destination: Plymouth MA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 33, 2,500 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 320° at 15 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; not recorded
- Temperature: 95°F (35°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.