Cessna 172M accident near Block Island, Rhode Island, June 5, 1983
On June 5, 1983 at about 3:30 pm local time, a Cessna 172M, registered N6901H, was substantially damaged in an accident near Block Island, Rhode Island (Block Island airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 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
- June 5, 1983 · about 3:30 pm local time
- Place
- Block Island, Rhode Island · Block Island
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172M · all 172Ms on the register
- Registration
- N6901H · registry record
- 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 DURING A LANDING, THE BRAKES FAILED & HE WAS UNABLE TO STOP ON THE RWY. THE ACFT RAN OFF THE END & CAME TO REST IN BUSHES WITH SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE. ACCORDING TO THE PLT, THE OUTBOARD PRESSURE PLATE & LINING HAD SEPARATED FROM EACH BRAKE. REPORTEDLY, THE BRAKES HAD BEEN WORKING NORMALLY UNTIL THEY FAILED.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 15,600 hours in all; 388 in this make and model; 12 in the last 90 days; 333 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,588 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 13, 1983; 89 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: GON Groton CT at 3:00 pm
- Destination: BID Block Island RI
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 10, 2,500 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 4 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; not recorded
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
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.