Cessna 150F accident near Gordonsville, Virginia, August 20, 1983
On August 20, 1983, a Cessna 150F, registered N8705S, was substantially damaged in an accident near Gordonsville, Virginia (Gordonsville Muni. airport). It was an instructional 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 20, 1983
- Place
- Gordonsville, Virginia · Gordonsville Muni. · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150F · all 150Fs on the register
- Registration
- N8705S · registry record · serial 15062005
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT VEERED OFF THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE RWY DURING A LANDING AFTER AN ABORTED TAKEOFF. THE STUDENT PILOT HAD JUST COMPLETED 5 TAKEOFFS AND LANDINGS WITH A CFI. THE STUDENT WAS THEN TOLD TO DO TWO SOLO FULL STOP TAKEOFFS AND LANDINGS. THE FIRST TAKEOFF AND LANDING WAS UNEVENTFUL. THE CFI STATED THAT THE 2ND LIFT-OFF OCCURRED AT MIDFIELD. THE ACFT ROSE TO ABOUT 5 FT AND THEN A POWER REDUCTION WAS HEARD. TOUCHDOWN WAS NORMAL BUT AFTER TOUCHDOWN THE STUDENT LOST CONTROL. THE ACFT LEFT THE RWY, SPUN AROUND AND CONTACTED TREES. WHEN THE STUDENT WAS ASKED WHY HE ABORTED WHAT APPEARED TO BE A NORMAL TAKEOFF HE SAID THAT 'IT JUST DIDN'T FEEL RIGHT.' THIS WAS HIS SECOND SUPERVISED SOLO. THE STUDENT DID NOT REPORTOR INDICATE ANY MALFUNCTIONS OR FAILURES OF EQUIPMENT. THE WIND WAS REPORTEDLY CALM AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT.
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: 17 hours in all; 17 in this make and model; 14 in the last 90 days; 1 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,951 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 19, 1983; 22 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200-A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 22, 2,309 ft by 40 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 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.