Sunday, August 26, 2018

Cessna 172M Skyhawk, operated by Epix Aviation, N1537U: Accident occurred August 26, 2018 at New Kent County Airport (W96), Quinton, Virginia

The National Transportation Safety Board did not travel to the scene of this accident.

Additional Participating Entity:
Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Richmond, Virginia

Aviation Accident Preliminary Report - National Transportation Safety Board: https://app.ntsb.gov/pdf

https://registry.faa.gov/N1537U

Location: New Kent, VA
Accident Number: ERA18LA233
Date & Time: 08/26/2018, 1610 EDT
Registration: N1537U
Aircraft: Cessna 172
Injuries: 1 Serious
Flight Conducted Under:  Part 91: General Aviation - Instructional 

On August 26, 2018, about 1610 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 172M, N1537U, was substantially damaged when it impacted terrain at New Kent County Airport (W96) in Quinton, Virginia. The student pilot was seriously injured. Day visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time, and no flight plan was filed for the solo cross-country instructional flight that departed from Chesapeake Regional Airport (CPK), Norfolk, Virginia, about 1510. The airplane was operated by Epix Aviation under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91.

According to the operator, this was the pilot's second flight of the day. He had previously flown the accident airplane with his flight instructor performing practice maneuvers. The accident flight was a solo cross country with an intended route of CPK-W96-CPK.

A witness located outside the main hangar at the W96 fixed base operator (FBO) heard the accident airplane's engine, looked up and saw the airplane in a steep left turn with the nose "about 40 degrees down". It then descended out of view behind the hangar, shortly thereafter he heard sounds of an impact. Based on his description, the airplane had apparently approached runway 29, however he did not see it perform a go-around, or a touch-and-go landing, prior to his observation of the steep left descending turn. By policy, the operator does not permit student pilots to perform touch-and-go landings on solo cross-country flights.

About 700 feet south of the runway centerline at midfield, the airplane struck a power line, impacted terrain and three different sections of fencing while crossing a road, before coming to rest nose down in the grass adjacent to the FBO parking lot. The path from the initial ground scars to the main wreckage site was 65 feet long and oriented along a heading of about 85° magnetic.

Examination of the wreckage by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Inspector revealed that all major components of the airplane were present at the accident site. The forward fuselage was crushed aft and remained in a 90-degree nose down attitude. The empennage was completely separated just aft of the rear window and folded downward relative to the fuselage with the tail resting on the ground. Both wings were substantially damaged and crushed aft and the left wing was partially separated near its root. An outboard section of left wing and aileron about 3 feet long was completely separated from the remainder of the wing.

Flight control continuity was established from the cockpit area to the control surfaces. The flaps were found in the retracted position and the elevator trim tab displaced about 1" trailing edge up (airplane nose down direction).

All engine controls (throttle, mixture, carburetor heat) were found in the full forward positions. The fuel selector was found in the "both" position. One propeller blade had leading edge gouge marks from about mid span to the tip while the other blade was inaccessible underneath the wreckage.

A review of airplane maintenance logbooks revealed that the most recent airframe 100-hour inspection was performed on June 8, 2018. The aircraft total time was 9787 hours, which was about 85 hours prior to the accident. The most recent engine 100-hour inspection was performed on August 7, 2018, about 27 hours prior to the accident, at the time when the newly overhauled engine was installed.

According to flight school records, the student pilot had accumulated 40 hours of total flight experience, all of which was in the same make/model as the accident airplane, of which 5 were as pilot in command.

At 1615, the reported weather at W96 included wind from 220° at 3 knots.

The airplane was retained for further examination.

Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information

Aircraft Make: Cessna
Registration: N1537U
Model/Series: 172 M
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Amateur Built: No
Operator: Epix Aviation
Operating Certificate(s) Held: None

Meteorological Information and Flight Plan

Conditions at Accident Site: Visual Conditions
Condition of Light: Day
Observation Facility, Elevation: W96, 121 ft msl
Observation Time: 1615 EDT
Distance from Accident Site: 0 Nautical Miles
Temperature/Dew Point: 30°C / 20°C
Lowest Cloud Condition: Clear
Wind Speed/Gusts, Direction: 3 knots / , 220°
Lowest Ceiling: None
Visibility:  10 Miles
Altimeter Setting: 30.13 inches Hg
Type of Flight Plan Filed:
Departure Point: Norfolk, VA (CPK)
Destination: New Kent, VA (W96)

Wreckage and Impact Information

Crew Injuries: 1 Serious
Aircraft Damage: Destroyed
Passenger Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Fire: None
Ground Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 1 Serious
Latitude, Longitude:  37.501389, -77.126111 (est)



NEW KENT COUNTY, Va. -- The pilot of a small plane that crashed at the New Kent County Airport Sunday afternoon was seriously injured, according to Virginia State Police.

Troopers were called to 6901 Terminal Road just before 4:15 p.m.

"The troopers preliminary investigation reveals that the pilot of a Cessna 172M Skyhawk was coming in for a landing," Sgt. Keeli L. Hill with Virginia State Police said. "Just prior to touching down, the pilot veered to the left striking some guide wires."

Officials said the victim was transported to an area hospital with serious but non-life threatening injuries.

No other injuries were reported.

Troopers said the FAA has been notified, as is procedure, and that the cause of the crash remains under investigation.

Story and video ➤ https://wtvr.com

NEW KENT, VA (WWBT) -  The pilot of a single-engine Cessna plane is recovering after being seriously injured during a plane crash in New Kent County. 

Virginia State Police were called around 4:12 p.m. to 6901 Terminal Road. 

Police say the plane was coming in for a landing, but just before touching down the pilot veered to the left striking some guide wires. 

The pilot was taken to the hospital with serious but non-life threatening injuries. 

The Federal Aviation Administration has been notified. 

The cause of the crash remains under investigation. 

Original article can be found here ➤ http://www.nbc12.com

1 comment:


  1. Uh, I have at least 20 hours in that bird. Our son and other family too. A number of people here at work flew with me also.

    It has (had) a long history. I would estimate that at least 200 new pilots were made in that airplane over a period of 30 years.

    It did the daily traffic report over the area for at least a decade before the spy cameras were installed on the roadways.

    Glad to see there was not a fatality in such a legacy bird with a rich history.

    ReplyDelete