# NTSB BFO87LA025: Cessna 172N, N734ZD, Charlottesville, VA, March 2, 1987

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: March 2, 1987, 11:28 local (16:28 UTC)
- Place: Charlottesville, VA
- Location: 38.1396° N, 78.4523° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at CHARLOTTESVILLE-ALBEMARLE (CHO), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.1396&lon=-78.4523&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report October 7, 1988
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 11311
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=BFO87LA025
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/11311/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/BFO87LA025

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll
  - weather condition - crosswind (contributing factor)
  - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
- Nose down, landing - roll

## Analysis

AFTER CLIMBING TO CRUISE ALTITUDE AND NOTING THAT THE WINDS WERE STRONGER THAN EXPECTED, THE PILOT ELECTED TO DIVERT TO CHARLOTTESVILLE. UPON ENTERING THE TRAFFIC PATTERN, THE PILOT NOTED THAT HE WOULD BE LANDING WITH A CROSSWIND FROM THE RIGHT. THE AIRCRAFT TOUCHED DOWN AND TRAVELED ABOUT 100 FEET BEFORE RUNNING OFF THE LEFT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY. WINDS WERE 300 DEGRESS AT 18 KNOTS.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N734ZD](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N734ZD-2003-08-13), registration cancelled 2003-08-13, S/N 17269237, built 1977 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172N
- Registry model: [Cessna 172N](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172n) (registry code 2072434) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 17269237
- Airframe hours: 1860
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Warren M. Griffin
- Registered owner: Warren M Griffin
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: 2WO, WINTERGREEN, VA
- Destination: CHO, STONE MOUNTAIN, GA
- Airport: CHO, Charlottesville-Albemarle, runway 21, 6,001 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 38; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 119 total, 119 in this make and model, 57 as pilot in command, 31 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 300° at 18 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 54 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: CHO

## Other investigations on N734ZD (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 MIA00LA175](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA00LA175), May 27, 2000: Cessna 172N (N734ZD), Lincolnton, NC, substantial damage. Probable cause: The inadequate supervision of the student pilot by the CFI for his failure to note that the student was performing a go-around from a low pass with 30-degree of flaps extended instead of the POH…

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.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.
