Cessna 172K accident near Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania, November 28, 1985
On November 28, 1985 at about 4:15 pm local time, a Cessna 172K, registered N7506G, was substantially damaged in an accident near Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 3 others were unhurt. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
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
- November 28, 1985 · about 4:15 pm local time
- Place
- Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 3 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172K · all 172Ks on the register
- Registration
- N7506G · no longer on the register · serial 17259206
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT WAS ON AN IFR FLT EN ROUTE TO ALLEGHENY COUNTY ARPT AT 6000 FT WHEN AN ELECTRICAL FAILURE OCCURRED. THE PLT EXECUTED A PRECAUTIONARY LANDING IN A MUDDY FLD. THE NOSE WHEEL CAUGHT IN MUD AND THE ACFT NOSED OVER. EXAMINATION OF THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM REVEALED THAT THE ALTERNATOR SYSTEM FAILED DUE INTERNAL STRUCTURE WEAR WHICH SHORTED OUT THE ALTERNATOR.
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 sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 555 hours in all; 314 in this make and model; 26 in the last 90 days; 235 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,734 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 22, 1985; 198 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,150 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: AVP Wilkes-Barre PA at 3:46 pm
- Destination: AGC Pittsburgh PA
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 1 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded at 6,000 ft; scat at 300 ft
- Temperature: 37°F (3°C), dew point 36°F (2°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
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.