Cessna 172N accident near Buckingham, Virginia, May 9, 1984
On May 9, 1984 at about 11:30 pm local time, a Cessna 172N, registered N73787, was substantially damaged in an accident near Buckingham, Virginia (Lotus Airport). 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
- May 9, 1984 · about 11:30 pm local time
- Place
- Buckingham, Virginia · Lotus Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172N · all 172Ns on the register
- Registration
- N73787 · registry record · serial 17267679
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT BOUNCED AND DRIFTED DURING THE LANDING FLARE. THE PLT ADDED POWER TO GO-AROUND AND WAS UNABLE TO CLEAR THE TREES NEAR THE RWY.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 300 hours in all; 150 in this make and model; 35 in the last 90 days; 235 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 13, 1983
- Maximum gross weight: 2,150 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-A1A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: IAD Washington DC at 10:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27, 2,700 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 360° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 9,000 ft; clear
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 34°F (1°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:45 pm from LHY, 30 miles away
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.