Cessna 172 accident near Block Island, Rhode Island, June 28, 1987
On June 28, 1987 at about 5:00 pm local time, a Cessna 172, registered N79041, was substantially damaged in an accident near Block Island, Rhode Island (Block Island State airport). It was a positioning 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
- June 28, 1987 · about 5:00 pm local time
- Place
- Block Island, Rhode Island · Block Island State
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172 · all 172s on the register
- Registration
- N79041 · no longer on the register · serial 17257836
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Positioning flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT RPRTD THAT DRG TAKEOFF, THE ENG LOST POWER. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE ACFT CRASHED INTO AN AREA OF BRUSH ON LEVEL TERRAIN ABOUT 1/2 MI OFF THE DEPARTURE END OF THE RWY. THE OPERATOR RPRTD THAT IN A CONVERSATION WITH THE PLT, THE PLT INDICATED THAT HE HAD TAKEN OFF WITH THE FUEL SELECTOR IN THE 'OFF' POSITION. THE PLT DID NOT FILE AN ACDNT RPRT.
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: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,650 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 8,500 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, June 28, 1987
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-A1A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: WST Westerly RI
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 28, 2,500 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Sky: not recorded; not recorded
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 59°F (15°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
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.