Piper PA-18-95 accident near Stowe, Vermont, July 20, 1985
On July 20, 1985 at about 1:57 pm local time, a Piper PA-18-95, registered N5777D, was substantially damaged in an accident near Stowe, Vermont. It was a personal 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
- July 20, 1985 · about 1:57 pm local time
- Place
- Stowe, Vermont
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-18-95 · all PA-18-95s on the register
- Registration
- N5777D · no longer on the register · serial 18-5279
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING CRUISE FLT, THE PLT HEARD A LOUD KNOCKING COMING FROM THE ENG AND A DECREASE IN OIL PRESSURE. DURING THE LANDING IN A FLD, THE LANDING GEAR COLLAPSED AND THE ACFT GROUND LOOPED. EXAMINATION OF THE ENG DISCLOSED THAT THE HYDRAULIC LIFTERS OF THREE OF THE FOUR CYLINDERS HAD FAILED. THE CORRESPONDING INTAKE AND EXHAUST VALVES WERE NOT OPENING PROPERLY DURING ENG OPERATION.
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: 196 hours in all; 110 in this make and model; 50 in the last 90 days; 106 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,450 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 10, 1985; 95 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,500 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental C-90-12F (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Swanton VT at 1:10 pm
- Destination: MPV Montpelier VT
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 320° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 4,500 ft; not recorded at 4,500 ft
- Temperature: 77°F (25°C), dew point 61°F (16°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.