Cessna 172L N7737G

Summary

On 30 October 1996 at about 00:28 local time, a Cessna 172L registered N7737G, operated by Warrenton Flight Center, was involved in an accident near Brandy Station, Virginia, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

30 October 1996 at 00:28

Classification

Accident

Location

Brandy Station, Virginia, United States

Nearest airport

Culpeper County (W49)

Coordinates

38.5190, -77.8909

Aircraft

Cessna 172L

Registration

N7737G

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Warrenton Flight Center

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Instructional

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Warrenton → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Night/Dark

NTSB number

IAD97FA014

2 people died.

the certificated flight instructor's failure to ensure that proper altitude/clearance was maintained above the terrain and trees, while on final approach. Darkness was a related factor.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The certificated flight instructor (CFI) and student pilot were practicing landings on a dark moonless night, when the airplane struck 80 foot high trees, 2,157 feet from the approach end of the runway. Examination of the airplane and engine did not disclose any evidence of mechanical malfunction. The Visual Approach Slope Indicator (VASI) for the runway was inspected after the accident; the VASI was determined to have provided a clearance of 96.51 feet above the trees at the accident site. The Airport Manager stated that the CFI had completed an instrument flight instructor check ride about 30 days before the accident. According to a pilot information form dated 17 months before the accident, the CFI had reported over 632 hours of airplane experience, which included 85 hours in make and model. This was the student's first night flight.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.