# Accident 20040701023999A: Cessna 172M, Winston Salem, NC, July 1, 2004

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: July 1, 2004, 15:00 local time
- Place: Winston Salem, NC
- Airport: Smith Reynolds
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Ground Taxi, Other Airplane
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 36.1336° N, 80.2169° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.1336&lon=-80.2169&mi=10
- Aircraft: N71409, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N71409) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cessna 172M (registry code 2072418, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172m) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming 0-320 series (registry code 41508, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172M
- Reported engine: LYC O320*
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 325 total, 100 in this make and model, 30 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ATL04LA167](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL04LA167) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040701023999A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

(-23) THE OWNER OF THE FLIGHT SCHOOL AND THE CESSNA 172 STATED THAT THE PILOT, WILLIAM P. WEGE, AND ANOTHER PILOT, BETH O'MALLEY, WERE TAXIING THE AIRCRAFT TO A PARKING AREA AT THE TERMINATION OF THEIR FLIGHT. MR. WEGE WAS TAXIING THE AIRCRAFT WHEN HE INADVERTENTLY STRUCK A POLE WITH THE RIGHT WING TIP WHILE HE WAS EXECUTING A SHARP LEFT TURN. THE RIGHT WING SUFFERED SPAR AND SKIN DAMAGE AS A RESULT OF THE COLLISION WITH THE POLE.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

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.

- [NTSB ATL04LA167](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL04LA167), Jul 1, 2004: Cessna 172M (N71409), Winston Salem, NC, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from the fence post, while taxing which resulted in a collision.

## Other reports on N71409 (2)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Incident 20250206001889I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20250206001889I), Feb 6, 2025: Cessna 172M (N71409), Shiloh, NC, Minor damage. Airplane had a deer strike; it was nighttime the airplane was occupied by an instructor and an student. Airplane did not have any significant damage. The deer…
- [Accident 19830513019399A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19830513019399A), May 13, 1983: Cessna 172M (N71409), Ocean Way, FL, Substantial damage. Aircraft crashed during low level flight. Pilot claimed engine malfunction but not substantiated.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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