Cessna 172P accident near Farmville, North Carolina, September 26, 1998
On September 26, 1998 at about 11:05 am local time, a Cessna 172P, registered N54013, was substantially damaged in an accident near Farmville, North Carolina (Flanagan Field). 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 failure to maintain directional control of the aircraft and his improper use of the brakes, which led to the aircraft departing the left side of the runway. Contributing factors were the wet runway and the vehicle.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 26, 1998 · about 11:05 am local time
- Place
- Farmville, North Carolina · Flanagan Field
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172P · all 172Ps on the register
- Registration
- N54013 · no longer on the register · serial 17274844
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot stated that he flew a left traffic pattern for runway 03. He stated the final approach was flown at approximately 65 to 70 knots with 30 degrees of flaps. He said he landed about 500 feet down the runway, and during initial braking the aircraft began to slow down. However, the pilot said, that after a short time the brakes locked, and the aircraft slid off the left side of the wet grass runway striking a tractor and farm equipment.
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: 341 hours in all; 137 in this make and model; 54 in the last 90 days; 14 in the last 30 days; 281 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,146 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, July 30, 1998; 31 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,400 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-D2J (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: ISO Kinston NC at 10:50 am
- Destination: N08 NC
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 3, 2,000 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 100° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 68°F (20°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:50 am from RDU, 63 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.