Cessna 172N accident near Fuguay-Varina, North Carolina, September 7, 1986
On September 7, 1986 at about 2:33 am local time, a Cessna 172N, registered N4892G, was substantially damaged in an accident near Fuguay-Varina, North Carolina (Triple W Air Park airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. 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
- September 7, 1986 · about 2:33 am local time
- Place
- Fuguay-Varina, North Carolina · Triple W Air Park · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172N · all 172Ns on the register
- Registration
- N4892G · no longer on the register · serial 17273439
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
PLT SAID HE SAW FOG AROUND RWY LIGHTS AS HE FLEW OVER AIRPORT TO ENTER DOWNWIND LEG FOR RWY 16. ON SHORT FINAL, BELOW LEVEL OF TREES THAT BORDERED RWY EAST SIDE. HE LOST GROUND REFERENCES. FLAPS WERE RETRACTED TO REDUCE DRAG BUT ACFT WAS NOT ACCELERATED TO BEST RATE OF CLIMB SPEED. PITCH ATTITUDE WAS NOT PROPERLY POSITIONED TO ACCOUNT FOR FLAP RETRACTION. ACFT DID NOT CLIMB AND STRUCK TREES ATO EAST OF RWY. PLT SAID HEADING WAS MIANTAINED ON 160 DEGREES. HE TOLD FAA INSPECTOR THAT HEADING INDICATOR WAS RESET DURING THE APPROACH AND TURN TO RWY 16.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 339 hours in all; 150 in this make and model; 27 in the last 90 days; 303 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,072 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, May 13, 1986; 95 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-H2AD (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MRH Morehead City NC at 1:15 am
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 16, 3,004 ft by 70 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 030° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 66°F (19°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:50 am from RDU, 15 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.