Cessna C-170A accident near Marathon, New York, September 28, 1985
On September 28, 1985 at about 2:30 pm local time, a Cessna C-170A, registered N5709C, was substantially damaged in an accident near Marathon, New York. 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
- September 28, 1985 · about 2:30 pm local time
- Place
- Marathon, New York · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna C-170A
- Registration
- N5709C · registry record · serial 19663
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING AN APPROACH TO LAND ON A 1600 FT PRIVATE GRASS AIRSTRIP THE PLT NOTICED THE ACFT WAS TOO HIGH. THE LANDING ATTEMPT WAS CONTINUED UNTIL THE PLT THOUGHT THERE WOULD NOT BE SUFFICIENT RUNWAY TO STOP THE ACFT. A GO AROUND WAS INITIATED AND THE TAIL WHEEL STRUCK THE GROUND CAUSING THE LOSS OF CONTROL. THE ACFT CAME TO REST IN A FIELD BEYOND THE RUNWAY WITH WINGTIP, LANDING GEAR AND PROPELLER DAMAGE.
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: 454 hours in all; 169 in this make and model; 26 in the last 90 days; 359 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,905 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 30, 1984
- Maximum gross weight: 2,200 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-145 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: N00 Fulton NY at 1:30 pm
- Destination: Marathon NY
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 1,600 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
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.