Cessna 205 accident near Midland, Virginia, April 9, 1987
On April 9, 1987 at about 1:40 am local time, a Cessna 205, registered N8381Z, was substantially damaged in an accident near Midland, Virginia (Warrenton-Fauquick airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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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 September 29, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 9, 1987 · about 1:40 am local time
- Place
- Midland, Virginia · Warrenton-Fauquick · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 205
- Registration
- N8381Z · registry record · serial 205-0381
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT STATED THAT THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME HE HAD EVER LANDED ON RWY 32. DURING THE LNDG APCH, ABOUT 15 SECS BEFORE TOUCHDOWN, HIS EYEGLASSES BROKE AND FELL OFF HIS FACE. HE REACHED FOR HIS SPARE EYEGLASSES THAT WERE ON TOP OF THE INSTRUMENT PANEL; HOWEVER, DURING THIS EFFORT THE SPARE EYEGLASSES FELL ON THE FLOOR NEXT TO THE RIGHT-SEAT-RUDDER PEDALS. HE BECAME PREOCCUPIED WITH RETRIEVING THE EYEGLASSES AND AS A RESULT THE ACFT TOUCHED DOWN TO THE LEFT OF THE RWY CENTERLINE AT AN EXCESSIVE SPEED. AFTERWARDS THE ACFT FLOATED IN THE AIR AND DRIFTED LEFT. THE L WING HIT SMALL TREES THAT WERE 10 TO 15 FT LEFT OF THE RWY. THE PLT WAS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL AND AS A RESULT THE ACFT WENT OFF THE LEFT SIDE OF THE RWY. EXAMINATION OF THE ACCIDENT SITE REVEALED THE LANDING GEAR WAS ON THE RWY WHEN THE WING HIT THE TREES.
The NTSB's narratives can run to many pages; this is the opening. Read the full report at the NTSB.
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database and is rewritten in plain English only where the NTSB used codes; the probable cause and narrative are the NTSB's own words. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number BFO87LA029.