Cessna 172 accident near Orleans, Massachusetts, June 3, 1984
On June 3, 1984 at about 9:15 pm local time, a Cessna 172, registered N8433L, was substantially damaged in an accident near Orleans, Massachusetts. 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 3, 1984 · about 9:15 pm local time
- Place
- Orleans, Massachusetts
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172 · all 172s on the register
- Registration
- N8433L · registry record · serial 17256635
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
SHORTLY AFTER LEVEL OFF THE PILOT STATED THAT THE ENGINE BEGAN TO RUN ROUGHLY. ALL EMERGENCY PROCEDURES WERE FOLLOWED AND A PRECAUTIONARY LANDING WAS MADE ON THE BEACH. AS THE ACFT TOUCHED DOWN AND ROLLED OUT, THE NOSE WHEEL DUG INTO THE SAND AND THE AIRCRAFT FLIPPED OVER. TEMPERATURE AT THE TIME WAS APRX 60 DEG F. INSPECTION REVEALED THAT THE FLEX DUCT THAT SUPPLIES HOT AIR TO THE CARBURETOR WHEN CARBURETOR HEAT IS APPLIED HAD BECOME DISCONNECTED.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land
- Flight time: 490 hours in all; 415 in this make and model; 70 in the last 90 days; 306 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection; 78 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,150 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Chatham MA at 9:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°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.