Private Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Sissonville, West Virginia 25320
Sunday, March 26, 2000 15:00 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot was executing a takeoff from a 1,100-foot dirt strip for closed traffic when the airplane encountered a gust of wind shortly after becoming airborne. The pilot applied full aileron and rudder, but could not arrest the drift to the left. The airplane struck trees, then slid down a bank, coming to rest approximately 80 feet from the left edge of the runway. The pilot made no mention of any flight control or engine malfunctions. The weather was clear, with an occasional gust of wind when the pilot executed the takeoff. After the accident, the fuel selector was found in the on position, fuel was present, and flight control continuity was verified.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's failure to maintain runway alignment during takeoff. A factor in the accident was wind gusts.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 3/26/2000
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1500
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City SISSONVILLE
Event State WEST VIRGINIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 25320
Event Date Year 2000
Event Date Month 3
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport PRIVATE
Event Location Nearest Airport ID NONE
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 600
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1454 Eastern Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 170
Weather Observation Facility ID CRW
Elevation of weather observation facility 920
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 11
Time Zone of the weather observation EST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 15
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 1
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Variable
Wind Speed (knots) 6
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 86
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Mar 27 2000 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1115
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 12 2000 1:30PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N7879T
NTSB Number NYC00LA099
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Cessna
Aircraft Model 172
Aircraft Series Identifier 172
Aircraft Serial Number 47479
Certified Max Gross Weight 2200
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Aug 26 1999 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 42
Airframe Hours 2940
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name WILLIAM TABBERT
Aircraft Owner Street Address 1903 LAKELAND RD
Aircraft Owner City SISSONVILLE
Aircraft Owner State WV
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 25320
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address
Operator City
Operator State
Operator Country
Operator Zip code
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code NONE
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1500
Departure Time Zone EST
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Takeoff
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:35AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 22
Runway Length 1100
Runway Width 50
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --