# NTSB NYC85FAMS1: Cessna 172N, N1423E, Block Island, RI, September 14, 1985

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Missing aircraft · Final report
- Date: September 13, 1985, 20:45 local (Sep 14, 1985, 00:45 UTC)
- Place: Block Island, RI
- Location: 41.1918° N, 71.5745° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Block Island, RI, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.1918&lon=-71.5745&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Unknown](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/990) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 35586
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC85FAMS1
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/35586/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC85FAMS1

## Sequence of events

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

- Missing aircraft, unknown
  - light condition - dark night
  - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause)

## Analysis

THE ACFT DEPARTED LONG ISLAND ON A VFR FLT PLAN FOR BLOCK ISLAND. THE PLT DID NOT CLOSE THE FLT PLAN AFTER ARRIVAL AT BLOCK ISLAND AND DEPARTED BLOCK ISLAND WITHOUT REFILING A FLT PLAN. THE FLT DEPARTED BLOCK ISLAND AT NIGHT TO THE EAST OVER THE OCEAN AND HAS NOT BEEN LOCATED. A WITNESS ON THE ISLAND SAW WHAT WAS BELIEVED TO BE ACFT LIGHTS GO INTO THE OCEAN THE EVENING THE ACFT DEPARTED. THE FOLLOWING AFTERNOON A FISHING VESSEL RECOVERED A WHEEL ASSEMBLY THAT WAS BROKENOFF THE ACFT. BOTH ACFT AND OCCUPANTS HAVE NOT BEEN LOCATED.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N1423E](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1423E-1988-11-30), registration cancelled 1988-11-30, S/N 17270992 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172N
- Registry model: [Cessna 172N](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172n) (registry code 2072434) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 17270992
- Airframe hours: 2591
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-H2AD 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: Unknown
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Gace Flying Club, Inc
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, August 22, 1985, 21 hours before
- Departed: BID, BLOCK ISLAND, RI

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 24; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; flight hours: 180 total

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 310° at 2 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 54 °F, dew point 36 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: BID

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.

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