Cessna 172N accident near Apex, North Carolina, October 7, 1992
On October 7, 1992 at about 4:25 pm local time, a Cessna 172N, registered N4874D, was substantially damaged in an accident near Apex, North Carolina (Cox airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S IMPROPER IN-FLIGHT PLANNING AND HIS INADEQUATE COMPENSATION FOR WIND CONDITIONS, WHICH RESULTED IN THE OVERRUN OF THE RUNWAY. FACTORS WERE THE TAIL WIND CONDITIONS, AND THE DOWNHILL, GRASS RUNWAY.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 7, 1992 · about 4:25 pm local time
- Place
- Apex, North Carolina · Cox · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172N · all 172Ns on the register
- Registration
- N4874D · no longer on the register · serial 17272382
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE COMMERCIAL PILOT ELECTED TO GO AROUND ON HIS FIRST LANDING ATTEMPT AT THE PRIVATE, GRASS AIRSTRIP DUE TO CROSSWINDS. ON HIS SECOND ATTEMPT WITH 20 DEGREES FLAPS SELECTED, HE DETERMINED THAT HE COULD NOT STOP THE AIRCRAFT IN THE REMAINING RUNWAY, AND ABORTED THE LANDING. THE AIRCRAFT COLLIDED WITH A DITCH, AND NOSED OVER. AN FAA INSPECTOR WENT TO THE SITE IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE ACCIDENT AND REPORTED THAT TAILWINDS PREVAILED ON THE RUNWAY THAT THE PILOT SELECTED. HE ALSO REPORTED THAT THE 2,200 FOOT AIRSTRIP SLOPED DOWNHILL TOWARD THE ACCIDENT SITE. AN INSPECTION OF THE FLIGHT CONTROLS AND WHEEL BRAKES SHOWED NO EVIDENCE OF A MALFUNCTION OR FAILURE, AND NONE WAS REPORTED BY THE PILOT.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 245 hours in all; 24 in this make and model; 6 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days; 215 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, January 2, 1900
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-H2AD (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: W17 Knightdale NC at 4:07 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27, 2,200 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 080° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 50°F (10°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:50 pm from RDU, 8 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.
Other NTSB records under N4874D the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.