# NTSB NYC83FNC09: Cessna 172, N5326R, Enosburg Falls, VT, August 4, 1983

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Final report
- Date: August 4, 1983, 02:30 local (06:30 UTC)
- Place: Enosburg Falls, VT
- Location: 44.9100° N, 72.8020° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Enosburg Falls, VT, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.9100&lon=-72.8020&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious, 2 minor
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 35116
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC83FNC09
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/35116/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC83FNC09

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- In flight collision with object, landing - flare/touchdown
  - light condition - dark night (contributing factor)
  - airport facilities,runway edge lights - unavailable (contributing factor)
  - judgment - poor, pilot in command (cause)
  - impairment(alcohol), pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - electrical system - undetermined (contributing factor)
  - in-flight planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - not performed, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - object - building(nonresidential) (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE PLT REPORTED THAT WHEN HE WAS ON FINAL TO LAND ON A DARK NIGHT, THE ACFT HAD ELECTRICAL FAILURE & HE HAD NO LIGHTS. HE REPORTED THAT THIS OCCURRED WHEN HE HAD STARTED HIS FLARE & THAT WAS ALL HE COULD REMEMBER UNTIL AFTER HE HAD REGAINED CONSCIOUSNESS AFTER THE ACCIDENT. WITNESSES REPORTED THAT THE PLT MADE 3 ATTEMPTS TO LAND. AFTER THE 3RD ATTEMPT, THE ACFT CRASHED INTO A SMALL BUILDING, LOCATED APRX 75 FT SOUTH OF RWY 27. THE RWY WAS UNLIGHTED. IT WAS BORDERED ALONG THE SOUTH SIDE BY A ROW OF MOBILE HOMES & PARKED ACRFT. REPORTEDLY, THE PLT HAD LANDED THERE BEFORE AT NIGHT WHILE THE MOBILE HOME LIGHTS WERE ON, BUT DURING THIS LANDING (AT APRX 0230 EDT), THE LIGHTS WERE NOT ON. FIVE HOURS AFTER THE ACCIDENT, THE PILOT'S BLOOD ALCOHOL LEVEL WAS 0.043%.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N5326R](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5326R-1991-03-29), registration cancelled 1991-03-29, S/N 17252851 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172
- Registry model: [Cessna 172F](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172f) (registry code 2072414) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 17252851
- Engines: CONTINENTAL O-300-D 145 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Roy L. Mcallister
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility
- Last inspection: Unknown, April 4, 1982
- Departed: BTV, BURLINGTON, VT
- Airport: 3B8, Enosburg Falls, Vt, runway 27, 2,200 × 25 ft, gravel

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 39; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: right; toxicology performed; flight hours: 1,600 total, 1,600 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 310° at 10 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility: 15 statute miles

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19830804038679A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19830804038679A), Aug 4, 1983: Cessna 172F, Enosburgh Falls, VT, Destroyed. On third try to land aircraft struck a building adjacent to an unlighted runway w/o landing light. Alcohol involved

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.