Cessna 172I accident near Brockport, New York, August 15, 1984
On August 15, 1984 at about 6:36 pm local time, a Cessna 172I, registered N8439L, was destroyed in an accident near Brockport, New York (Ledgedale Airpark airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. 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
- August 15, 1984 · about 6:36 pm local time
- Place
- Brockport, New York · Ledgedale Airpark · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172I · all 172Is on the register
- Registration
- N8439L · registry record · serial 17256639
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT CRASHED INTO TREES ABOUT 2500 FT FROM THE TAKEOFF POINT. WITNESSES OBSERVED THE ACFT IN A RUNNING TAKEOFF AFTERA NORMAL LANDING. THE ACFT FAILED TO GAIN ALT AND STAYED AT ABOUT 50 FT AGL. THE ACFT HAD TAKEN OFF ON RWY 28 & AFTER TAKEOFF WAS SEEN MAKING A TURN TO THE RT IN A PLUS SIXTY DEGREE BANK. THE TURN RESULTED IN A 90 DEGREE CHANGE OF HEADINGTO A HEADING OF NORTH. THE ACFT FLEW INTO WIRES & TREES WITH OUT FURTHER CHANGE OF HEADING OR ALT. NOTHING OF A MECHANICAL OR PHYSICAL NATURE WAS FOUND DURING THE INVESTIGATION THAT WAS CONTRIBUTORY TO A DETERMENATION OF CAUSE.
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: 144 hours in all; 3 in this make and model; 111 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 1, 1984
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2D9 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 28, 2,800 ft by 37 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 250° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 3,500 ft
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 61°F (16°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:50 pm from ROC, 11 miles away
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.