Cessna 172L accident near Brandy Station, VA
On October 30, 1996, a Cessna 172L (airplane) was involved in an accident near Brandy Station, VA. 2 people died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- October 30, 1996
- Place
- Brandy Station, VA
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172L · Airplane
- Injuries
- 2 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 38.519°N, 77.891°W
- NTSB ID
- 20001208X06898
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On October 29, 1996, at 1928 eastern standard time, a Cessna 172L, N7737G, was destroyed when it collided with trees while on final approach to runway 22 at Culpeper County Airport, Brandy Station, Virginia. The certificated flight instructor (CFI) and the dual student were fatally injured. Night visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a flight plan was not filed. The instructional flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91, and originated at Warrenton-Fauquier County Airport in Warrenton, Virginia, at 1716. According to the Airport Manager, the instructor had planned to take the student on a night training flight for about 3 hours in preparation for his private pilot check ride. The Manager said the CFI had taken his Instrument Instructor check ride about 30 days prior to the accident, and he had flown with the CFI earlier that afternoon for about 1.7 hours on an "instructor's refresher flight." The manager said it was sunset, the sky was clear, the winds were calm, and the airplane was refueled before the night training flight. The instructor and student completed two to three touch and go landings at the Warrenton Airport, and the engine was running well. He said that he left the airport for home, about 1830. There were no witnesses to the crash. The airplane was reported overdue by the CFI's family to the police department. Search personnel located the wreckage adjacent to the road near the airport. A watch found in the wreckage was stopped at 1928. The airplane impacted terrain about a half mile west of the Culpeper County Airport, in a wooded a
Probable cause
the certificated flight instructor's failure to ensure that proper altitude/clearance was maintained above the terrain and trees, while on final approach. Darkness was a related factor.
More accidents in VA
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Browse: Virginia · Cessna aircraft
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
