Cessna 172P accident near Spring Valley, New York, May 12, 1986
On May 12, 1986 at about 6:00 pm local time, a Cessna 172P, registered N55352, was substantially damaged in an accident near Spring Valley, New York (Ramapo Valley airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person 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
- May 12, 1986 · about 6:00 pm local time
- Place
- Spring Valley, New York · Ramapo Valley · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172P · all 172Ps on the register
- Registration
- N55352 · no longer on the register · serial 17275165
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT WAS MAKING AN APCH TO RWY 08 WHICH IS 2185 FT LONG AND 50 FT WIDE. THE LAST 1/3 OF THE RWY SLOPES DOWN NOTICEABLY. THE ACFT STRUCK PARKED CARS IN A PARKING LOT LOCATED OFF THE DEPARTURE END OF THE RWY. THERE WERE NO WITNESSES TO THE ACCIDENT. THE ARPT HAS SUBSEQUENTLY BEEN CLOSED. THE PLT STATED HE COULD NOT RECALL ANY OF THE EVENTS CONCERNING THE APCH OR ACCIDENT.
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: 188 hours in all; 85 in this make and model; 28 in the last 90 days; 126 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,335 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, April 3, 1986; 77 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,200 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-D23 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Tag Aviation, INC.
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 8, 2,185 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 360° at 10 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°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.