Cessna 172 accident near Eppingham, New Hampshire, October 2, 1983
On October 2, 1983 at about 6:30 pm local time, a Cessna 172, registered N66162, was substantially damaged in an accident near Eppingham, New Hampshire. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 4 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
- October 2, 1983 · about 6:30 pm local time
- Place
- Eppingham, New Hampshire
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172 · all 172s on the register
- Registration
- N66162 · no longer on the register · serial 17275973
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT STATED THAT WHILE ENROUTE TO NORTH CONWAY, NH WITH ABOUT 10 GAL. OF FUEL ON BOARD HE HAD TO ALTER COURSE TO THE SOUTHEAST TO FIND A HOLE TO DROP UNDER CLOUDS AND AVOID THE MOUNTAINS. HE COULD NOT IDENTIFY AND LAND MARKS AND LOST CONTACT WITH THE AUGUSTA AND KENNYBUNK VORS DUE TO LOW ALTITUDE. HE REALIZED HE WAS LOST AND DID NOT HAVE ENOUGH FUEL TO CLIMB UP TO GET A VOR FIX ON HIS LOCATION. THE FUEL GAUGES WERE INDICATING EMPTY SO THE PILOT IMMEDIATELY LOOKED FOR A SUITABLE FORCED LANDING SITE.
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: 110 hours in all; 78 in this make and model; 29 in the last 90 days; 53 as pilot in command; 11 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 90 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 7, 1983
- Maximum gross weight: 2,075 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-D2J (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Bethel ME at 5:30 pm
- Destination: No. Conway NH
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 12 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; scat at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
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 N66162 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.