# NTSB NYC85FA136: Cessna C172P, N53809, Fryeburg, ME, May 28, 1985

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: May 28, 1985, 13:00 local (17:00 UTC)
- Place: Fryeburg, ME
- Location: 44.0201° N, 70.9720° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Fryeburg, ME, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.0201&lon=-70.9720&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 4 fatal
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 35813
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC85FA136
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/35813/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC85FA136

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - in flight, takeoff - initial climb
  - aircraft handling - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - weather condition - rain (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor)
  - airspeed - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - stall - not corrected, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled
  - object - tree(s)

## Analysis

THE ACFT CRASHED IN AN UNCONTROLLED ATTITUDE NEAR THE RWY FROM WHICH IT HAD RECENTLY DEPARTED. THERE WAS A 40 DEGREE DOWN SWATH CUT THROUGH THE TREES TO A CRATER IN THE GROUND. THE ENGINE WAS REMOVED FROM THE CRASH SITE AND EXAMINED AND NOTHING WAS FOUND TO PREVENT NORMAL OPERTION. ONE WITNESS REPORTED SEEING THE ACFT SHORTLY AFTER LIFTOFF AT ABOUT 300 FT AGL AND APPEARED TO BE ALMOST IN A STALL. THE ENGINE SOUNDED SMOOTH BUT NOT RUNNING AT FULL SPEED. THE ACFT APPEARED HEAVY & SLUGGISH. THE WX WAS LIGHT RAIN, SORT OF A MIST, AT THAT TIME. THE ACFT DISAPPEARED FROM THIS WITNESS RANGE OF SIGHT AND WAS NOT SEEN AGAIN. THE CRASH SITE WAS LOCATED THE NEXT DAY AIDED BY SIGNALS FROM THE ELT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N53809](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N53809-1989-01-16), registration cancelled 1989-01-16, S/N 17274820 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA C172P
- Registry model: [Cessna 172P](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172p) (registry code 2072436) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 17274820
- Airframe hours: 2171
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-D2J 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Gregory J. Burchstead
- Registered owner: Flight Center, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, April 26, 1985, 75 hours before
- Destination: BVY, BEVERLY, MA

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 20; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: unknown, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 128 total, 13 in this make and model, 85 as pilot in command, 15 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day
- Visibility: 2 statute miles

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.