Cessna 172 N8874B

Summary

On 12 August 2000 at about 16:30 local time, a Cessna 172 registered N8874B was involved in an accident near Davis, West Virginia, United States. 4 people were on board and one died, 3 were seriously injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

12 August 2000 at 16:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Davis, West Virginia, United States

Nearest airport

Windwood Fly-In Resort (WV62)

Coordinates

39.1294, -79.4606

Aircraft

Cessna 172

Registration

N8874B

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Other Work Use

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

NYC00FA226

1 person died.

The pilot-in-command's inadequate weather evaluation, which resulted in a takeoff with a tailwind, and a subsequent inadvertent stall. Factors were a high gross weight, a high density altitude, and a tailwind.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

Several minutes prior to the accident flight, the pilot flew a solo familiarization flight in the accident airplane. During the solo flight, he departed Runway 6 and returned uneventfully. The pilot then boarded three passengers for a scenic flight, and observed that the wind was not favoring either runway, as it was from the northwest, about 330 degrees at 10-12 knots. The airplane was near the maximum gross weight, and the density altitude at the airport was approximately 4,068 feet msl. Trees and a house were at the departure end of the 3,000-foot long runway. The pilot taxied to Runway 24, and several minutes later, performed a short field takeoff. A witness stated that the winds were from the northeast when the accident flight departed. As the airplane lifted off, the pilot observed the windsock again. He then realized that the wind was favoring Runway 6; however, he continued the takeoff. The pilot tried to avoid a house, and the airplane stalled to the left.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.