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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

NTSB Reports is an independent research and search tool for public aviation accident and incident records. It brings NTSB aviation reports, structured fields, docket files, extracted figures, photos, videos, and update history into one searchable interface.

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February 23, 1986 · Cessna 172L · N7191Q

Gordonsville, VA

Overview

Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
February 23, 1986
Injury Outcomes
1 injury (1 minor injury)
Location
Gordonsville, VA
Aircraft
Cessna 172L
Tail Number
N7191Q
Operator
James C Joyner
Injuries
Minor
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
BFO86FID01

ON FEBRUARY 23, 1986, AT 1621 EST, A CESSNA 172L, N7191Q COLLIDED WITH A TREE DURING AN ATTEMPTED GO-AROUND AT GORDONSVILLE AIRPORT, GORDONSVILLE, VA., WHILE ON A PLEASURE FLIGHT. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED AT THE TIME AND NO FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED. THE AIRCRAFT WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED AND THE STUDENT PILOT RECEIVED MINOR INJURIES. THE FLIGHT ORIGINATED FROM CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA, ON FEBRUARY 23, 1986. A WITNESS, JAMES CHUMM, STATED THAT THE APPROACH WAS HIGH AND FAST AS THE POWER WAS INCREASED FOR WHAT HE ASSUMED WAS A GO-AROUND THE ENGINE WAS HEARD TO BACK-FIRE SEVERAL TIMES. HE THEN OBSERVED THE AIRCRAFT DESCENDING INTO A FIELD DURING WHICH THE LEFT WING COLLIDED WITH A TREE AND THE AIRCRAFT FLIPPED OVER AND CAME TO REST INVERTED.

Full Narrative

ON FEBRUARY 23, 1986, AT 1621 EST, A CESSNA 172L, N7191Q COLLIDED WITH A TREE DURING AN ATTEMPTED GO-AROUND AT GORDONSVILLE AIRPORT, GORDONSVILLE, VA., WHILE ON A PLEASURE FLIGHT. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED AT THE TIME AND NO FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED. THE AIRCRAFT WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED AND THE STUDENT PILOT RECEIVED MINOR INJURIES. THE FLIGHT ORIGINATED FROM CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA, ON FEBRUARY 23, 1986. A WITNESS, JAMES CHUMM, STATED THAT THE APPROACH WAS HIGH AND FAST AS THE POWER WAS INCREASED FOR WHAT HE ASSUMED WAS A GO-AROUND THE ENGINE WAS HEARD TO BACK-FIRE SEVERAL TIMES. HE THEN OBSERVED THE AIRCRAFT DESCENDING INTO A FIELD DURING WHICH THE LEFT WING COLLIDED WITH A TREE AND THE AIRCRAFT FLIPPED OVER AND CAME TO REST INVERTED.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time16:21 EST
Nearest AirportGordonsville (1nm NE)
Runway4
Runway Length2300 ft
Runway Width40 ft
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftCessna 172L
Tail NumberN7191Q
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
OperatorJames C Joyner
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · O-320-E-2D · Reciprocating · 150
Seats4

People & Injuries

Injury Summary1 injury (1 minor injury)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor1
Uninjured0
Total1
Crew 1Age 41 · Third Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind310° @ 6 kt
Visibility15 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point48 / 25 C
Altimeter29.00 inHg
Observation Time02:45
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data