Cessna R-182 accident near Martinsburg, West Virginia, February 21, 1987
On February 21, 1987 at about 4:04 pm local time, a Cessna R-182, registered N756KZ, was substantially damaged in an accident near Martinsburg, West Virginia (Eastern West Va Regional 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
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 12, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 21, 1987 · about 4:04 pm local time · cases in 1987
- Place
- Martinsburg, West Virginia · Eastern West Va Regional · cases near this airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna R-182 · all R-182s on the register
- Registration
- N756KZ · registry record · serial R-182-01100
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Ferry flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT STATED THAT HE FORGOT TO MAKE A FINAL BEFORE LNDG CHECK BECAUSE HE WAS CONCENTRATING ON TRAFFIC AND THE SHORT LNDG HE HAD BEEN REQUESTED TO MAKE. TWR PERSONNEL VIOLATED USAF PROCEDURES WHEN THEY REQUESTED THAT THE ACFT HOLD SHORT OF THE EAST-WEST RWY ON LNDG AND WHEN THEY DID NOT REMIND THE PLT TO CHECK WHEELS DOWN PRIOR TO LNDG.
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; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,162 hours in all; 23 in this make and model; 831 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,800 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, October 9, 1986; 80 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,100 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-540-J3C5D (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Armel Aviation, LTD.
The flight
- Departed from: IAD Chantilly VA at 3:45 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 35, 5,001 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 080° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 39°F (4°C), dew point 14°F (-10°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:00 pm from MRB
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.
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N756KZ on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Cessna R182 Skylane RG 706 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Cessna 72,684 aircraft on the register
- Engine: Lycoming O-540-J3C5D 24 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Eastern WV Rgnl/Shepherd Field · nearest airport
- Washington Dulles International · departed from
- Accidents and incidents in West Virginia 423 since 1982 · 53 in the last ten years
- West Virginia 886 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/BFO87FA024.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.