Cessna 172I accident near Knightdale, North Carolina, April 13, 1992
On April 13, 1992 at about 6:13 pm local time, a Cessna 172I, registered N8471L, was substantially damaged in an accident near Knightdale, North Carolina (Raleigh East 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 PILOT'S INADEQUATE COMPENSATION FOR CROSSWIND CONDITIONS, AND HIS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN AIRCRAFT CONTROL. A FACTOR WAS THE CROSSWIND CONDITIONS AT THE AIRPORT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 13, 1992 · about 6:13 pm local time
- Place
- Knightdale, North Carolina · Raleigh East · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172I · all 172Is on the register
- Registration
- N8471L · no longer on the register · serial 17256671
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PRIVATE PILOT WAS PREPARING TO LAND FOLLOWING A CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT. ON SHORT FINAL, CROSSWIND CONDITIONS BLEW HIM SLIGHTLY OFF COURSE, AND HE MADE A CORRECTION. AFTER TOUCHDOWN, THE CROSSWIND BLEW HIM OFF COURSE AGAIN, AND HE ATTEMPTED A GO AROUND. THE CROSSWIND LIFTED THE RIGHT WING, AND THE LEFT WING CONTACTED THE GROUND. THE AIRPLANE SPUN AROUND AND IMPACTED AN EMBANKMENT. THE PILOT REPORTED NO MECHANICAL PROBLEMS WITH THE AIRPLANE PRIOR TO 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: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 168 hours in all; 135 in this make and model; 25 in the last 90 days; 17 in the last 30 days; 53 as pilot in command; 113 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,795 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 20, 1992; 25 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: BVI Beaver Falls PA at 3:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 1, 3,000 ft by 36 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 090° at 13 knots
- Visibility: 12 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 57°F (14°C), dew point 28°F (-2°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:50 pm from RDU, 15 miles away
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.