# Accident 20110813018879A: Cessna 172M, Elkins, WV, August 13, 2011

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: August 13, 2011, 11:30 local time
- Place: Elkins, WV
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Takeoff: Climb Out
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 38.8894° N, 79.8569° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.8894&lon=-79.8569&mi=10
- Aircraft: N5399Q, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5399Q-2017-10-20) (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: LYCOMING 0-320 SERIES
- People aboard: 3
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Airline transport, flight instructor
- Pilot flight hours: 12,900 total, 3,500 in this make and model, 300 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA11CA450](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA11CA450) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20110813018879A

## Narrative

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

08/13/2011ELKINS-RANDOLPH COUNTY-JENNINGS RANDOLPH FIELD AIRPORT, WV (EKN): THE STUDENT PILOT OF N5399Q, A C172M, WHILE ON A VFR TRAINING FLIGHT WAS UNABLE TO GAIN ALTITUDE ABOVE THE TREES DUE TO THE ROUGH CANYON LIKE TERRAIN, THE CFI TOOK CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT AND IMPACTED IN A WOODED AREA 4.7 MILES EAST OF THE AIRPORT. LOCAL AUTHORITIES RESPONDED. POB: 3, INJURIES: NONE, AIRCRAFT WAS DESTROYED.

## 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 ERA11CA450](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA11CA450), Aug 13, 2011: Cessna 172M (N5399Q), Elkins, WV, substantial damage. Probable cause: The flight instructor's unfamiliarity with the geographic area, resulting in controlled flight into terrain.

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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