Cessna C172 accident near Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania, July 23, 1984
On July 23, 1984 at about 7:45 pm local time, a Cessna C172, registered N2627L, was substantially damaged in an accident near Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania (Bloomsburg airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. 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
- July 23, 1984 · about 7:45 pm local time
- Place
- Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania · Bloomsburg · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna C172
- Registration
- N2627L · no longer on the register · serial 1725827
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT WAS DITCHED IN A RIVER DURING AN ATTEMPTED GO-AROUND. THE PLT SAID HE APPROACHED THE ARPT WITH FULL FLAPS AT ABOUT 70 MPH. DURING THE ABORTED LANDING HE APPLIED FULL POWER AND THEN EXPERIENCED A SUDDEN LOW LEFT WING, A MUSHY CONTROL FEELING AND A LOSS OF AIRSPEED. THE PLT PUSHED THE NOSE DOWN SHARPLY. THE PLT SAID THAT DURING HIS ATTEMPTS TO REGAIN CONTROL THE ENGINE QUIT. THE PLT SAID HE CONCENTRATED ON KEEPING THE WINGS LEVEL AND RAISING THE NOSE FOR A WATERLANDING. THE ACFT NOSED UNDER AFTER TOUCHDOWN. THE PLT STATED THAT HE BELIEVES HIS MISHANDLING OF THE ACFT CAUSED THE STALL AND ENGINE FAILURE.
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: 113 hours in all; 105 in this make and model; 17 in the last 90 days; 70 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 2,150 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-300-D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 0G7 Seneca Falls NY
- Destination: N13 Bloomsburg PA
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 26, 2,800 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 260° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 82°F (28°C)
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.