Falwell Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Lynchburg, Virginia 24501
Saturday, June 22, 2002 12:10 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot flew an approach to runway 28, a 2,900 foot-long asphalt runway. The pilot set the flaps to 40 degrees, and prior to touching down, he noticed a "severe incline" in the runway. A go-around was initiated and then aborted when the pilot decided there was enough runway on which to land. After touch down, a gust of wind hit the right wing. The pilot was unable to keep the airplane on the runway, and it veered off the left side. The airplane impacted trees, and came to rest on a grassy area. The airplane was loaded with "about" 4 boxes, each filled with books. The pilot did not remember the exact amount of boxes in the airplane, or the weights of these boxes, but he added that there were a "couple" of boxes on the rear seat, and a "couple" in the rear cargo compartment. Examination of the airplane found the elevator trim in the full nose down position, and the flaps set to 20 degrees. Weather about the time of the accident included winds from 090 degrees at 8 knots.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's failure to maintain control of the airplane, a factor was the tailwind.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 6/22/2002
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1210
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City Lynchburg
Event State VIRGINIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 24501
Event Date Year 2002
Event Date Month 6
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 372204N
Event Location Longitude 0790702W
Event Location Airport Falwell Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID W24
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport 280
Airport Elevation 939
Weather Briefing Completeness Full
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1154 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID LYH
Elevation of weather observation facility 939
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) --
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 26
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 14
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 90
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 8
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.41
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 2
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 13007
NTSB Notification Source EROC
NTSB Notification Date Jun 22 2002 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1420
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Apr 17 2003 10:27AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\MONR
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Richmond

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N5408E
NTSB Number NYC02LA121
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Cessna
Aircraft Model 172N
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 17271846
Certified Max Gross Weight 2300
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 Jun 5 2002 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 5
Airframe Hours 2209
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Technology Support Services
Aircraft Owner Street Address 2468 Fairway Oaks Court
Aircraft Owner City Hampstead
Aircraft Owner State MD
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 21074
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name Timothy Olin Niles
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address --
Operator City Hampstead
Operator State MD
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 21074
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? --
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
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 No
Departure Airport Code DMW
Departure City WESTMINSTER
Departure State MD
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1010
Departure Time Zone EST
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code W24
Destination City Lynchburg
Destination State VA
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Landing
Report sent to ICAO? No
Evacuation occurred No
Date of most recent change to record Jan 21 2003 2:16PM
User who most recently changed record PEAR
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location 28
Runway Length 2900
Runway Width 50
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --