Cessna 172 accident near Buckhannon, West Virginia, April 22, 1982
On April 22, 1982 at about 7:30 pm local time, a Cessna 172, registered N3155E, was substantially damaged in an accident near Buckhannon, West Virginia (Lewis Field). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 22, 1982 · about 7:30 pm local time
- Place
- Buckhannon, West Virginia · Lewis Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172 · all 172s on the register
- Registration
- N3155E · no longer on the register · serial 17271454
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT REPORTED MAKING A NORMAL APPROACH TO RUNWAY 26 IN TURBULENT AND WINDY CONDITIONS. HE ESTIMATED THAT THE WIND WAS FROM 360 DEGREES AT 15 TO 20 KNOTS. AFTER THE MAIN WHEELS TOUCHED DOWN, HE ENCOUNTERED A GUST OF WIND THAT HE ESTIMATED WAS ABOVE 30 KNOTS. AT THAT TIME, THE PLANE VEERED OFF THE RUNWAY AND STRUCK A FENCE.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 114 hours in all; 52 in this make and model; 8 in the last 90 days; 60 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,523 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-H2AD (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Berd Aviation
The flight
- Departed from: W67 Charleston WV at 1:15 pm
- Destination: CRW Buckhannon WV
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 26, 2,670 ft by 40 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 360° at 20 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; scat at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 122°F (50°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.