Cessna 172M accident near Williamsport, Pennsylvania, November 28, 1982
On November 28, 1982 at about 9:40 pm local time, a Cessna 172M, registered N1498U, was substantially damaged in an accident near Williamsport, Pennsylvania. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was conditions the NTSB did not record.
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
- November 28, 1982 · about 9:40 pm local time
- Place
- Williamsport, Pennsylvania
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- conditions the NTSB did not record
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172M · all 172Ms on the register
- Registration
- N1498U · no longer on the register · serial 17267165
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE AIRCRAFT DEPARTED THE AIRPORT WITH ICE ON THE AIRFRAME. THE PILOT ENCOUNTERED MORE ICING IN FLIGHT AND DECIDED TO RETURN TO THE AIRPORT, BUT WAS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN HIS ALTITUDE. THE AIRCRAFT COLLIDED WITH TREES DURING A FORCED LANDING. THE PILOT HAD BEEN ADVISED OF ICING CONDITIONS.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 768 hours in all; 375 in this make and model; 45 in the last 90 days; 642 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,724 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 28 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Williamsport PA at 4:14 pm
- Destination: Columbus OH
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Wind: from 020° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 3 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 600 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 32°F (0°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.