Cessna 172E accident near Elkton, VA
On October 26, 1997, a Cessna 172E (airplane) was involved in an accident near Elkton, VA. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- October 26, 1997
- Place
- Elkton, VA
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172E · Airplane
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 38.411°N, 78.610°W
- NTSB ID
- 20001208X09094
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On October 26, 1997, approximately 1143 eastern standard time, a Cessna 172E, N3097U, was destroyed when it collided with trees near Elkton, Virginia. The certificated private pilot was fatally injured. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal flight that originated at Winchester, Virginia (OKV), approximately 1000, with an intended destination of West Palm Beach, Florida (LNA). No flight plan was filed for the flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. When the pilot departed OKV, elevation 721 feet msl, the weather was reported to be: sky partially obscured, measured ceiling 500 overcast with visibility 2.5 miles. The temperature was 46 degrees and the dewpoint was 45 degrees. One witness, the pilot's ex-wife, stated in a telephone interview that the pilot had planned to fly to the Lantana Airport (LNA), West Palm Beach, Florida, with stops en route for fuel. She said the weather at OKV at the time of departure was "...misty with light rain, you could not see very far." She was concerned about the weather after viewing the weather channel and the conditions at the airport. She reminded the pilot to call for weather information and he assured her he did. She further stated: "He was anxious to get going. He felt he could get above the clouds. His GPS was working and he said as long as he kept that instrument steady [attitude indicator] he'd be all right. He really felt he was going to get above the clouds." The United States Air Force reported receiving an Emergency Locator Transmitter signal, at 1258, and again at 1406. The airplane was
Probable cause
The pilot's intention VFR flight into instrument meteorological conditions. Contributing factors were clouds and mountainous/hilly terrain..
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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.
