- Date
- December 2, 1990, 16:50 local (21:50 UTC)
- Place
- Axton, VA
- Injuries
- 1 fatal
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Approach
- Aircraft
- N55276Cessna 172P
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report October 26, 1992
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19901202052279A
- Case key
- 11647
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain adequate clearance with an obstacle. Contributing was an unmarked powerline and the pilot's lack of familiarity with the geographical area.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The airplane struck a 30 foot high unmarked powerline about 20 feet short of the runway of a private grass airstrip. The airplane came to rest inverted on the runway. The investigation did not reveal evidence indicating the pilot had previously landed at the airport. The examination of the airplane did not reveal evidence of mechanical malfunction.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N55276
- Reported as
- Cessna 172P
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 17275149
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320-D2J, 160 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Frank J. Still
- Registered owner
- Frank J. Still
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · June 27, 1990
- Departed
- 6VA2 · Martinsville, VA
- Destination
- 1
- Airport
- Davis
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 61
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Toxicology
- Performed
- Flight hours
- 375 total · 205 in this make and model · 273 as pilot in command · 12 in the last 90 days · 5 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 30° at 4 knots
- Visibility
- 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 8,000 ft broken
- Temperature
- 59 °F, dew point 50 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- DAN, 24 nm away
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.
Other investigations on N55276 · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.