# NTSB BFO91LA058: Cessna 172M, N20430, Beckley, WV, June 25, 1991

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: June 25, 1991, 04:15 local (08:15 UTC)
- Place: Beckley, WV
- Coordinates: 37.740966, -81.149238 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.7410&lon=-81.1492&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 2 minor
- Status: Completed, report February 12, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 11686
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=BFO91LA058
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/11686/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/BFO91LA058

## Probable cause

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO ATTAIN ADEQUATE FLYING SPEED.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power, climb
  - airspeed - not attained, pilot in command (cause)
  - stall/mush - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, takeoff - initial climb
  - object - tree(s)

## Analysis

THE PLT REPORTED THAT AFTER HE TOOK OFF THE ACFT WOULD NOT CLIMB PAST 100 FEET. HE STATED THE AIRSPEED WAS 70 KNOT, AND THE FLAPS WERE DOWN 10 DEGREES. HE SAID THE ENGINE WAS RUNNING THE ENTIRE TIME. HE CONTINUED FLYING STRAIGHT HEAD WHILE TRYING TO MAINTAIN AIRSPEED. THE ACFT SUBSEQUENTLY MUSHED AND STRUCK TREES ABOUT A MILE BEYOND THE END OF THE RUNWAY.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N20430](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N20430-1996-09-17), registration cancelled 1996-09-17, S/N 17261282 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172M
- Registry model: [Cessna 172M](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172m) (registry code 2072418) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 17261282
- Airframe hours: 2882
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-E2D 150 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Hap'S Aerial Enterprise, Inc
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, November 2, 1990, 82 hours before
- Destination: OCEAN ISLE, NC
- Flight plan: VFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 90 total, 30 in this make and model, 70 as pilot in command, 4 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Not reported
- Wind: 150° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 59 °F, dew point 55 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19910625023879A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19910625023879A), Jun 25, 1991: Cessna 172M, Beckley, WV, Destroyed. Mushed into trees on climbout. No defects found. Possible premature liftoff behind power curve.

## Other investigations on N20430 (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 IAD77FA063](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD77FA063), Aug 29, 1977: Cessna 172M (N20430), Manchester, KY, no damage, 1 fatal

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.