Cessna 172N accident near Stanardsville, VA
On August 19, 2002, a Cessna 172N (airplane) was involved in an accident near Stanardsville, VA. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- August 19, 2002
- Place
- Stanardsville, VA
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172N · Airplane
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 38.352°N, 78.502°W
- NTSB ID
- 20020906X01544
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On August 18, 2002, about 2050 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 172N, N738JR, was destroyed when it collided with trees and mountainous terrain at night near Stanardsville, Virginia. The certificated private pilot was fatally injured. No flight plan was filed for the flight that originated at the Charlottesville-Albermarle Airport (CHO), Charlottesville, Virginia, about 1937. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. Prior to departure, a witness observed the pilot performing a pre-flight inspection of the airplane and asked him where he was headed. The pilot stated that he was going to fly in the local area. The pilot contacted the air traffic control tower prior to takeoff, and requested a northwest departure from the airport. A review of radar data revealed that a visual flight rules (VFR) target headed north-northwest from the airport, then crossed over the Shenandoah National Park, Shenandoah, Virginia. The target then maneuvered along the northwestern edge of the park before it turned toward the southeast. The target proceeded on the southeasterly heading for several minutes, in a shallow descent, before the data ended about 2050. The airplane was reported missing on August 19, 2002, and a search was initiated. The airplane was located later that day in heavily wooded terrain near the 3,375 foot msl peak of Saddleback Mountain. The accident occurred during nighttime hours, approximately 38 degrees, 21 minutes north latitude, 78 degrees, 30 minutes west longitude. PERSONNEL INFORMATION The pilot
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain sufficient altitude/clearance while descending over mountainous terrain. A factor was the night lighting conditions.
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.
