Cessna 172 accident near Montauk, New York, September 30, 1985
On September 30, 1985 at about 6:30 pm local time, a Cessna 172, registered N6525J, was substantially damaged in an accident near Montauk, New York (Macarthur airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 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
- September 30, 1985 · about 6:30 pm local time
- Place
- Montauk, New York · Macarthur
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172 · all 172s on the register
- Registration
- N6525J · no longer on the register
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE CESSNA 172 WAS CRUISING 3000 FT OFF SHORE AT 600 FT AGL OVER THE OCEAN. THE ENGINE WAS AT 1900 RPM WITH THE CARBURATOR HEAT ON WHEN THE AIRCRAFT EXPERIENCED A POWER FAILURE. THE FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR MADE AN EMERGENCY LANDING ON A BEACH. UPON TOUCH DOWN THE LEFT WING STRUCK A ROCK AND THE AIRCRAFT SWERVED INTO THE OCEAN. THE PILOT AND FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR EXITED THE AIRCRAFT UNINJURED. THE AIRCRAFT RECEIVED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE. ON SITE EXAMINATION OF THE AIRCRAFT SHOWED IT HAD USABLE FUEL IN BOTH TANKS AND THE CAUSE OF THE ENGINE FAILURE WAS UNDETERMINED.
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: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 331 hours in all; 112 in this make and model; 300 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: ISP Islip NY
- Destination: ISP
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 230° at 14 knots
- Visibility: 8 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 54°F (12°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:50 pm from ISP
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.