20100731039899A

Accident · Substantial damage

FAA accident report · Cessna 172N · Elk Creek, VA · July 31, 2010

Date: July 31, 2010 · 11:15 local
Place: Elk Creek, VA
Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Substantial damage
Aircraft: N172FL
NTSB investigation: NTSBERA10CA392
Reported as: Cessna 172N
Reported engine: Lycoming 0-320 series
People aboard: 2
Fatal injuries: 0
Other injuries: 0
Pilot’s certificate: Student
Pilot’s flight hours: 170 total160 in this make and model7 in the last 90 days

N172FLRegistration cancelled May 6, 2013 · Cessna 172NS/N 17269187 · Built 1977 Airframe modelCessna 172N Engine modelLycoming 0-320 seriesReciprocating

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry 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.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

The student pilot elected to make an off airport landing in a hay field after experiencing instrument meteorological conditions and collided with a fence and surrounding terrain. The airplane sustained substantial damage. The pilot stated that he had no mechanical problem with the aircraft prior to the accident and fuel was observed in the tanks during the on-site investigation.

As the FAA filed it

THE STUDENT PILOT ELECTED TO MAKE AN OFF AIRPORT LANDING IN A HAY FIELD AFTER EXPERIENCING INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS AND COLLIDED WITH A FENCE AND SURROUNDING TERRAIN. THE AIRPLANE SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE HAD NO MECHANICAL PROBLEM WITH THE AIRCRAFT PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT AND FUEL WAS OBSERVED IN THE TANKS DURING THE ON-SITE INVESTIGATION.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB ERA10CA392Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportElk Creek, VAThe student pilot’s continued visual flight into instrument meteorological conditions, which resulted in an off-airport landing.Jul 31, 2010 · Substantial damage

Other reports on N172FL · 1

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

Accident 20060331004829ALevel Off Touchdown · Daytona Beach, FL(-23) On 31 mar 2006 at approximately 0850 EST, Cessna 172, N172FL, piloted by [privacy data omitted] porpoised on landing at Daytona Beach int'l airport (dab) runway 7R. The aircraft received substantial airframe damage to the firewall area, nosewheel,…Mar 31, 2006 · Substantial damage