Private Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Tappahannock, Virginia 22560
Thursday, September 3, 1987 19:00 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE ACFT WAS AT 1500 MSL WHEN A 300 RPM LOSS OF POWER OCCURRED. THE PLT SIGHTED A PRIVATE LANDING STRIP AND HE DECIDED TO MAKE A PRECAUTIONARY LANDING ON IT. DURING THE LANDING ROLL ON THE 62 FT WIDE GRASS STRIP THE L WING STRUCK CORN STALKS IN AN ADJACENT CORNFIELD. THE PLT EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF CONTROL FOLLOWED BY THE ACFT VEERING TO THE LEFT AND INTO THE CORNFIELD. EXAMINATION OF THE ACFT DID NOT REVEAL EVIDENCE OF MALFUNCTION. CONDITIONS WERE CONDUCTIVE FOR CARBURETOR ICING.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 9/3/1987
Event Day of the Week Thursday
Time of Event 1900
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City TAPPAHANNOCK
Event State VIRGINIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 22560
Event Date Year 1987
Event Date Month 9
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport PRIVATE
Event Location Nearest Airport ID
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1950 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID RIC
Elevation of weather observation facility 0
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 30
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 25000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Thin Broken
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 7
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 22
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 17
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 90
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 6
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
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) 1425
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Sep 4 1987 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1530
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 34731
Date of most recent change to record Dec 13 2000 2:48PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N78505
NTSB Number BFO87LA061
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 17257642
Certified Max Gross Weight 2150
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 Apr 16 1987 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 44
Airframe Hours 4014
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name JOHN MCDONALD
Aircraft Owner Street Address P.O. BOX 1265
Aircraft Owner City TAPPAHONNOCK
Aircraft Owner State VA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 22560
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name JOHN MCDONALD
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address P.O. BOX 1265
Operator City TAPPAHONOCK
Operator State VA
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 22506
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 W79
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1845
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code RIC
Destination City RICHMOND
Destination State VA
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Landing
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 0
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --