Cessna 172RG accident near Middletown, Pennsylvania, November 24, 1982
On November 24, 1982 at about 5:30 pm local time, a Cessna 172RG, registered N5223V, was substantially damaged in an accident near Middletown, Pennsylvania (Olmsted Field). It was a ferry 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
- November 24, 1982 · about 5:30 pm local time
- Place
- Middletown, Pennsylvania · Olmsted Field · 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
- N5223V · no longer on the register · serial 172RG0476
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Ferry flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AFTER LANDING THE TOWER DIRECTED THE PILOT TO BACK TAXI ON THE RUNWAY. AFTER CLEARING THE RUNWAY THE PILOT TAXIED STRAIGHT AHEAD WITH PROPER CONTROL DEFLECTIONS FOR A 10 DEGREE STRONG WIND BEHIND THE LEFT WING. A STRONG GUSTY WIND WAS ENCOUNTERED CAUSING THE AIRCRAFT TO BE LIFTED UP AND COME TO REST INVERTED. WIND GUSTS TO 30 KNOTS.
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: multi-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 370 hours in all; 304 in this make and model; 42 in the last 90 days; 145 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 714 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,200 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-F1A6 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Pennsylvania Airlines
The flight
- Departed from: CXY Harrisburg PA at 12:15 pm
- Destination: AI Phoenix AZ
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 31, 9,500 ft by 200 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 300° at 20 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 3,500 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 117°F (47°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 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.
Other NTSB records under N5223V the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.