Greenbrier Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Clifton, Virginia 24085
Friday, July 11, 1986 17:30 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

ACCORDING TO THE PILOT, HE AND HIS WIFE HAD DEPARTED MOUNT OLIVE, NC ON THE MORNING OF THE ACCIDENT ENROUTE TO ROMEO, MI. AFTER REFUELING AT DANVILLE, VA THEY DEPARTED BUT RAN INTO WEATHER NEAR BECKLY AND DIVERTED TO THE EAST. UNABLE TO LOCATE GREENBRIER AIRPORT AT WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, WV AND WITH THE WEATHER GETTING WORSE HE SUCCESSFULLY LANDED IN A WEED FIELD AT CLIFTON FORGE, VA. AFTER OFFLOADING HIS WIFE, THEIR LUGGAGE, AND ADDING 10 GALLONS OF FUEL TO THE AIRCRAFT HE ATTEMPTED TO TAKEOFF FROM THE WET 1800 FOOT FIELD AT ABOUT 1730 HOURS WITH THE DENSITY ALTITUDE ABOVE 3000 FEET. THE AIRCRAFT COLLIDED WITH WIRES AND CAME TO REST INVERTED.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 7/11/1986
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 1730
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City CLIFTON
Event State VIRGINIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 24085
Event Date Year 1986
Event Date Month 7
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport GREENBRIER
Event Location Nearest Airport ID SSU
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 25
Degrees magnetic from airport 80
Airport Elevation 0
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Pilot
Time of the weather observation 0
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID
Elevation of weather observation facility 0
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation
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) 27
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -18
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 0
Wind Velocity Indicator Light and Variable
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) 3200
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) 2389
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jul 11 1986 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 2150
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 33064
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 9:14AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N704VE
NTSB Number BFO86LA039
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 150M
Aircraft Series Identifier 150M
Aircraft Serial Number 15078902
Certified Max Gross Weight 1600
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 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Jun 24 1986 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 10
Airframe Hours 3217
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name DENNIS CLARENCE GILL
Aircraft Owner Street Address 6940 MAYER RD.
Aircraft Owner City FAIR HAUEN
Aircraft Owner State MN
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 48023
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 700 SPENCE STREET
Operator City GOLDSBORO
Operator State NC
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 27530
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
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1730
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code SSU
Destination City GREENBRIER
Destination State VA
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Descent
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:36AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0
Runway Length 0
Runway Width 0
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --