Cessna 172 accident near Emmett, Idaho, October 5, 1985
On October 5, 1985 at about 2:30 am local time, a Cessna 172, registered N2867Q, was substantially damaged in an accident near Emmett, Idaho (Emmett Muni 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
- October 5, 1985 · about 2:30 am local time
- Place
- Emmett, Idaho · Emmett Muni · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172 · all 172s on the register
- Registration
- N2867Q · no longer on the register · serial 17228670
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE LANDING IN CALM WIND CONDITIONS ON A 2400 FT RWY, THE LEFT BRAKE FAILED & THE ACFT CONTD OFF THE DEPARTURE END, THEN HIT A FENCE. AN EXAM REVEALED THE LEFT BRAKE PADS WERE WORN & THE LEFT ACTUATOR CYLINDER WAS LOSING FLUID. THE BRAKE BACKING PLATE & THE PRESSURE PLATE LINING WERE BOTH WORN INTO THE RIVET HEADS. ACCORDING TO A DEPUTY SHERIFF & TWO WITNESSES, THE PLT WAS INTOXICATED. THE PLT REFUSED TO TAKE A BREATH TEST TO CHECK FOR ALCOHOL.
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: 261 hours in all; 234 in this make and model; 39 in the last 90 days; 184 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,610 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 1, 1984
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MYL Mccall ID at 1:30 am
- Destination: S78
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0, 2,400 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 61°F (16°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.