Cessna A 152 accident near Lynchburg, Virginia, August 19, 1983
On August 19, 1983 at about 1:16 pm local time, a Cessna A 152, registered N47281, was substantially damaged in an accident near Lynchburg, Virginia (Falwell airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was 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
- August 19, 1983 · about 1:16 pm local time
- Place
- Lynchburg, Virginia · Falwell
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna A 152 · all A 152s on the register
- Registration
- N47281 · registry record · serial 15283208
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT RAN OFF THE RWY AND COLLIDED WITH A DITCH DURING TAKEOFF. THE STUDENT PILOT WAS PRACTICING TOUCH AND GO LANDINGS. DURING ONE RUNNING TAKEOFF AFTER FULL POWER WAS APPLIED THE PLT NOTICED THAT FULL FLAPS WERE STILL EXTENDED. WHILE RETRACTING THE FLAPS THE ACFT VEERED TO THE LEFT OFF THE RWY. THE POWER WAS REDUCED AND BRAKES APPLIED BUT THE ACFT CONTINUED ON INTO A DRAINAGE DITCH. THE TAKEOFF WAS ON RWY 10. THE WINDS WERE REPORTED AS BEING FROM 360 DEGREES AT6 KTS.
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: student
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 18 hours in all; 15 in this make and model; 15 in the last 90 days; 3 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 766 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, February 10, 1983; 38 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: W24 Lynchburg VA at 1:16 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 10, 2,900 ft by 24 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 360° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 72°F (22°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
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.