Warrenton-Fauquier Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Warrenton, Virginia 22728
Friday, June 6, 2003 11:15 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

While landing on runway 32, as the right wheel touched down, and the left wheel began to settle, the airplane veered to the left. The pilot added full throttle and attempted to abort the landing, but the airplane continued into tall grass at the edge of the runway, and nosed over. The airplane came to rest inverted, in a ditch. The winds reported at an airport located approximately 12 miles northeast of the accident site reported winds from 310 degrees at 10 knots with 14 knots of gust. A wind shift was reported about 9 minutes prior to the accident.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's inadequate compensation the shifting wind conditions, and his failure to maintain directional control. A factor related to the accident was the shifting wind conditions.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 6/6/2003
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 1115
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City Warrenton
Event State VIRGINIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 22728
Event Date Year 2003
Event Date Month 6
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 383513N
Event Location Longitude 0774240W
Event Location Airport Warrenton-Fauquier Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID W66
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation 329
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1055 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 70
Weather Observation Facility ID HEF
Elevation of weather observation facility 192
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 12
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) 22
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 11
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 310
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 10
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 14
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.05
Density Altitude (feet) 1038
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 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 16577
NTSB Notification Source Eastern Region Comm Center
NTSB Notification Date Jun 6 2003 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1900
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Oct 28 2004 10:11AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\MONR
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office FSDO-27 Dulles, VA

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N736AT
NTSB Number NYC03LA123
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 R172K
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number R1722379
Certified Max Gross Weight 2500
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 Nov 11 2002 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 34
Airframe Hours 2070
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Thomas W. Stewart
Aircraft Owner Street Address 13901 Covantry Lane
Aircraft Owner City Gainsville
Aircraft Owner State VA
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 20155
Operator is an individual? No
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? --
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 Yes
Departure Airport Code W66
Departure City Warrenton
Departure State VA
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1100
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code W66
Destination City --
Destination State --
Destination Country --
Specific Phase of Flight Landing - flare/touchdown
Report sent to ICAO? No
Evacuation occurred No
Date of most recent change to record Aug 25 2004 12:03PM
User who most recently changed record PEAR
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location 32
Runway Length 4103
Runway Width 60
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --