The U.S. aircraft register, updated daily
Accidents · NTSB NYC84LA003 · Preliminary: the investigation is not finished

Cessna C-172 accident near Spring Valley, New York, October 6, 1983

On October 6, 1983 at about 3:25 pm local time, a Cessna C-172, registered N96103, was substantially damaged in an accident near Spring Valley, New York (Ramapo Valley airport). It was an instructional 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
October 6, 1983 · about 3:25 pm local time
Place
Spring Valley, New York · Ramapo Valley · map
Type
Accident
Injuries
No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
Weather
visual conditions (good weather)
Aircraft
Cessna C-172
Registration
N96103 · no longer on the register · serial 17276022
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)

The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record

THE STUDENT PILOT, ON A SOLO INSTRUCTIONAL FLT LANDED HARD AND BOUNCED OFF THE RWY. THE STUDENT PLT WAS NOT INJURED BUT THE ACFT RECEIVED DAMAGE TO THE MAIN AND NOSE GEAR, THE PROPELLER, FIREWALL, WING ROOT AND THE ENGINE COWLING.

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: student
  • Ratings: single-engine land
  • Flight time: 34 hours in all; 34 in this make and model
  • Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
  • Seat: left

The aircraft

  • Airframe total time: 289 hours
  • Last inspection: annual inspection, July 1, 1983; 64 hours since
  • Maximum gross weight: 2,150 lb
  • Seats: 4
  • Landing gear: fixed
  • Engine: Lycoming O-320 (piston); 0 hours total

The flight

  • Flight plan: none
  • Runway 0

Weather at the time

  • Light: daylight
  • Wind: from 270° at 10 knots
  • Visibility: 20 statute miles
  • Sky: clear
  • Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)

Injuries

FatalSeriousMinorNone
Crew1

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.