# NTSB BFO96LA030: Cessna 172K, N84460, Lovingston, VA, December 1, 1995 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: December 1, 1995, 14:30 local (19:30 UTC) - Place: Lovingston, VA - Coordinates: 37.769119, -78.880126 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.7691&lon=-78.8801&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report January 17, 1997 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 9121 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=BFO96LA030 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/9121/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/BFO96LA030 ## Probable cause the pilot's improper planning/decision during the approach/landing phase of flight. Related factors were: the pilot's selection of the wrong runway, and the gusty tailwind conditions. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Overrun, landing - roll - planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (cause) - airport facilities,runway/landing area condition - grass - weather condition - gusts (contributing factor) - weather condition - tailwind (contributing factor) - wrong runway - selected, pilot in command (contributing factor) - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll - terrain condition - drop-off/descending embankment - terrain condition - high vegetation ## Analysis The pilot reported that he was landing on runway 3 at a private airport, and the wind was from 240 degrees at 10 gusting 20 knots. According to the pilot, the runway was a grass strip about 1,400 feet long. He reported that the airplane touched down about one third of the way down the grass strip, and he was unable to stop on the remaining runway. Subsequently, the airplane went off the departure end of the runway, down an embankment, and into brush and trees. An FAA inspector examined the airplane after the accident and reported that there was no evidence of a preimpact mechanical malfunction. ## Factual narrative On December 1, 1995, at about 1430 eastern standard time, a Cessna 172K, N84460, sustained substantial damage when it ran off the departure end of the runway while landing at a private grass strip in Lovingston, Virginia. The private pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, no flight plan was filed. The personal flight was conducted under 14 CFR 91 and originated at Palmyra, Virginia, at about 1400. The pilot reported that he set up for the recommended approach to runway 3. He stated that "...winds were [out of approximately] 240 degrees at 10 knots gusting to 20 knots. I landed about one third down the runway, but was unable to stop before reaching the end, and went over the embankment, down a small hill into brush and trees." According to a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Safety Inspector, the pilot reported that he was practicing landings at the grass strip when the accident occurred. The FAA Safety Inspector stated that the airplane was examined at the accident site and there was no evidence of preimpact mechanical malfunction. The pilot reported that the grass runway was 1,400 feet long, and that there was no mechanical malfunction. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N84460](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N84460-1999-01-09), registration cancelled 1999-01-09, S/N 17258479 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 172K - Registry model: [Cessna 172K](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172k) (registry code 2072430) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17258479 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-E2D 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Mark E Skinner - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, October 6, 1995, 20 hours before - Departed: 77VA, PALMYRA, VA - Destination: 8VA6, VA - Airport: 8VA6, Lovingston, runway 3, 1,400 × ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 42; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 527 total, 508 in this make and model, 437 as pilot in command, 38 in the last 90 days, 8 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 240° at 10 knots, gusting 20 - Visibility: 20 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 68 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: CHO, 50 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 (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 19951201047769A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19951201047769A), Dec 1, 1995: Cessna 172K, Lovingston, VA, Substantial damage. Landed short grass strip. Quartering 20KNOT tailwind. Overran runway down embankment into trees. 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.