Cessna 172M accident near Marienville, Pennsylvania, February 5, 1987
On February 5, 1987 at about 3:30 pm local time, a Cessna 172M, registered CGCGP, was substantially damaged in an accident near Marienville, Pennsylvania. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. 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
- February 5, 1987 · about 3:30 pm local time
- Place
- Marienville, Pennsylvania
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172M · all 172Ms on the register
- Registration
- CGCGP · no longer on the register · serial 17266960
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE CESSNA 172 EXPERIENCED A TOTAL LOSS OF POWER WHILE CRUISING AT 4000 FT ON AN IFR FLIGHT PLAN. THE PILOT MADE A LANDING ON A ROAD AND CLIPPED A ROAD SIGN AFTER TOUCHDOWN, THE AIRCRAFT SWERVED INTO A DITCH AND RECEIVED SUSBTANTIAL DAMAGE. THE TWO OCCUPANTS WERE NOT INJURED. EXAMINATION OF THE AIRCRAFT ENGINE SHOWED EXTENSIVE METAL CONTAMINATION AND A FAILED CONNECTING ROD ON THE NUMBER 4 CYLINDER. IN ADDITION THE CAMSHAFT AND LIFTERS SHOWED EXTENSIVE WEAR.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,108 hours in all; 304 in this make and model; 105 in the last 90 days; 891 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,312 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, December 31, 1986; 29 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Brampton CA at 2:15 pm
- Destination: EKN Elkins WV
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 280° at 13 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 25°F (-4°C), dew point 16°F (-9°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.