Cessna 172F accident near Bruceton Mills, West Virginia, January 31, 1989
On January 31, 1989 at about 11:15 am local time, a Cessna 172F, registered N8264U, was destroyed in an accident near Bruceton Mills, West Virginia. It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE POWER LOSS OCCURRED BECAUSE OF CARBURETOR ICE WHICH OBSTRUCTED AIRFLOW TO THE INDUCTION SYSTEM. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE CARBURETOR ICING CONDITIONS, THE HIGHWAY AND THE DITCH WHICH WAS CONTACTED.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 31, 1989 · about 11:15 am local time
- Place
- Bruceton Mills, West Virginia · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172F · all 172Fs on the register
- Registration
- N8264U · no longer on the register · serial 17252164
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT SAID HE WAS CRUISING AT 3800 FT AND ABOUT 15 MINUTES AFTER TAKEOFF THE ENG BEGAN LOSING POWER. HE TRIED TO RESTART THE ENGINE BUT WAS UNSUCCESSFUL. THE PLT SAID HE SUSPECTED CARB ICE. HE LANDED ON A HIGHWAY AND WENT OFF THE SIDE INTO A DITCH WHERE THE ACFT ERUPTED ON FIRE. THE TEMP, 38 F; DEW PT, 33 F; CONDITIONS WERE CONDUCIVE TO INDUCTION ICING. EXAMINATION OF THE ENG DID NOT REVEAL EVIDENCE OF A MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION.
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: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 130 hours in all; 110 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,000 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 1, 1988; 60 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-300 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: 2G4 Oakland MD at 11:00 am
- Destination: I15 Lancaster OH
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: night, bright
- Wind: from 190° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 3,000 ft
- Temperature: 37°F (3°C), dew point 34°F (1°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:36 am from MGW, 13 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.