Cessna 172N accident near Ferguson Twnshp, Pennsylvania, April 11, 1987
On April 11, 1987 at about 2:56 pm local time, a Cessna 172N, registered N5535E, was destroyed in an accident near Ferguson Twnshp, Pennsylvania (State College airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 4 people were killed. 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
- April 11, 1987 · about 2:56 pm local time
- Place
- Ferguson Twnshp, Pennsylvania · State College · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 4 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172N · all 172Ns on the register
- Registration
- N5535E · no longer on the register · serial 17271884
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT, WHO HAD NOT COMPLETED HIS CHECKOUT IN A CESSNA 172, WAS OBSERVED TO MAKE A LONG LANDING AND LIFT OFF WITH APPROXIMATELY 750 FT OF RUNWAY REMAINING. THE AIRCRAFT WAS OBSERVED TO ENTER A NOSE HIGH PITCH ATTITUDE AND DRIFT INTO A RIGHT TURN. THE AIRPORT HAS LEFT TRAFFIC FOR THE RUNWAY BEING USED. THE AIRCRAFT CONTINUED ITS RIGHT TURN IN A NOSE HIGH ATTITUDE AND THEN WAS OBSERVED TO ROLL VERY SHARPLY TO THE LEFT. THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED IN A RESIDENTIAL AREA. WINDS WERE FROM 180 DEGREES AT 10 GUSTING TO 13 KNOTS.
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: 128 hours in all; 6 in this make and model; 11 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days; 64 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,554 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 27, 1986; 325 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-H2AD (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Nittany Aero Club
The flight
- Departed from: SEC State College PA at 2:00 pm
- Destination: UNV
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 4, 4,065 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 20,000 ft
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 30°F (-1°C)
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.