Cessna 172K accident near Asheville, North Carolina, March 9, 1996
On March 9, 1996 at about 3:41 pm local time, a Cessna 172K, registered N79058, was substantially damaged in an accident near Asheville, North Carolina (Asheville airport). It was a ferry 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
failure of the brake on the right main landing gear as a result of water (ice) in the brake fluid, which resulted in a loss of braking control.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 9, 1996 · about 3:41 pm local time
- Place
- Asheville, North Carolina · Asheville · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172K · all 172Ks on the register
- Registration
- N79058 · no longer on the register · serial 17257850
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Ferry flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot was taxiing for takeoff. Temperature at the airport was 16 degrees Fahrenheit. The pilot stated that as he was taxiing and was approaching the end of the taxiway, the right brake did not respond, when he attempted to stop. The aircraft went off the left side of the taxiway and down an embankment, then it encountered a ditch and nosed over. Examination of the brake revealed that there was water (ice) in the brake fluid, which prevented the brake from operating.
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, flight engineer
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,332 hours in all; 138 in this make and model; 6 in the last 90 days; 6 in the last 30 days; 2,332 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,182 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 7, 1996; 1 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A1A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: AVL
- Destination: BUY Burlington NC
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 34, 8,001 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 033° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 2,500 ft
- Temperature: 16°F (-9°C), dew point 3°F (-16°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:52 pm from AVL
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.