Cessna 172 N3781S

Summary

On 18 July 1985 at about 02:45 local time, a Cessna 172 registered N3781S was involved in an accident near Leesburg, Florida, United States. 4 people were on board and one had minor injuries. The aircraft was destroyed. No probable cause statement is available for this record.

Date

18 July 1985 at 02:45

Classification

Accident

Location

Leesburg, Florida, United States

Nearest airport

Leesburg (LEE)

Coordinates

Not recorded

Aircraft

Cessna 172

Registration

N3781S

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Leesburg → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Night/Dark

NTSB number

MIA85LA213

1 person had minor injuries.

The NTSB has not published a probable cause for this record. No probable cause statement is present in the source data.

Nothing about the cause is stated here that is not in the source record.

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE PLT EXPERIENCED AN ELECTRICAL FAILURE WHILE ON A NIGHT FLT & WAS UNABLE TO ACTIVATE THE RWY LIGHTS BY KEYING HIS RADIO. HE ELECTED TO LAND ON THE UNLIGHTED RWY WITHOUT ANY LANDING LIGHTS RATHER THAN DIVERT TO ANOTHER ARPT. THE PLT STATED THAT DURING THE APCH TO LAND, HE REALIZED THAT HE WAS NOT LINED UP PROPERLY WITH THE RWY, & WHEN HE ATTEMPTED TO CORRECT THE ACFT'S ALIGNMENT WITH THE RWY, THE RIGHT WING 'LOST LIFT' & STRUCK THE GROUND. LAW INFORCEMENT PERSONNEL REPORTED THAT THE PLT HAD A SLIGHT ODOR OF ALCOHOL ON HIS PERSON; HOWEVER, THE PLT PASSED A PHYSICAL AGILITY SOBRIETY TEST. HE HAD MADE ONLY ONE NIGHT LANDING WITHIN THE PRECEDING 90 DAYS; THUS, HE DID NOT MEET THE REQUIRMENTS OF FAR 61.57 FOR NIGHT RECENCY OF EXPERIENCE.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.