Cessna 172 accident near Bridgeport, West Virginia, July 28, 1986
On July 28, 1986 at about 9:33 am local time, a Cessna 172, registered N96701, was destroyed in an accident near Bridgeport, West Virginia (Benebum Airport). It was a positioning flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
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
- July 28, 1986 · about 9:33 am local time
- Place
- Bridgeport, West Virginia · Benebum Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172 · all 172s on the register
- Registration
- N96701 · no longer on the register · serial 17276104
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Positioning flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE AIRCRAFT COLLIDED WITH A TREE WHILE ON FINAL APPROACH TO RUNWAY 21. THE FLIGHT HAD BEEN CLEARED FOR THE APPROACH AFTER THE PILOT REPORTED HAVING THE AIRPORT IN SIGHT. THERE WAS NO CURRENT WEATHER OBSERVATION AVAILABLE AT THAT TIME, BUT A LOCAL AIR TAXI OPERATOR REPORTED THAT AT 0610 EDT, THE WX WAS, IN PART: 200 FT OBSCD, VISIBILITY 1/8 MI. THE APPROACH PROCEDURE REQUIRED THAT THE PILOT USE THE MORGANTOWN ALTIMETER SETTING AND ADD 100 FEET TO THE DECISION HEIGHT.THE AIRCRAFT CRASHED ABOUT 2-1/2 MILES SHORT OF THE RUNWAY. THE DECISION HEIGHT FOR THE APPROACH WAS 1700 FEET MSL. THE AIRPORT ELEVATION WAS 1203 FT. THE CRASH SITE WAS AT APRX THE SAME ELEVATION AS THE ARPT. NO PREIMPACT PART FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION WAS EVIDENT. THE FLT PLAN INDCD THAT THE PERSON IN THE COPLT'S SEAT WAS THE PIC.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,300 hours in all; 1,200 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,478 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, April 24, 1986; 9 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-D2J (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: LOU Louisville KY at 6:58 am
- Destination: Clarksburg WV
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 21, 5,198 ft by 150 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 150° at 2 knots
- Sky: not recorded
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 66°F (19°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:58 am from CKB
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.