Cessna 172L accident near Mayville, New York, April 15, 1984
On April 15, 1984 at about 3:00 pm local time, a Cessna 172L, registered N3977Q, was substantially damaged in an accident near Mayville, New York (Dart airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries; 2 others were unhurt. 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
- April 15, 1984 · about 3:00 pm local time
- Place
- Mayville, New York · Dart · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries; 2 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172L · all 172Ls on the register
- Registration
- N3977Q · registry record · serial 17260077
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
ON AN APCH TO LAND, AFTER A GO-AROUND, THE ACFT CROSSED OVER WIRES & TOUCHED DOWN ON THE 1ST HALF OF THE RWY. THE PLT APPLIED BRAKES ON THE WET GRASS RWY, BUT NOTED A LACK OF BRAKING ACTION. HE APPLIED POWER TO GO AROUND, BUT DECIDED THE ACFT WOULD NOT CLEAR THE TREES, SO HE ABORTED THE GO-AROUND. THE ACFT WENT OFF THE END OF THE RWY & CAME TO REST IN A WOODED RAVINE.
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: 270 hours in all; 121 in this make and model; 9 in the last 90 days; 183 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,978 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 20, 1983
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 9GO Buffalo NY at 2:15 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 24, 1,840 ft by 80 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 3,500 ft
- Temperature: 50°F (10°C), dew point 46°F (8°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 | 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.