Cessna 172 accident near Staunton, Virginia, January 10, 1990
On January 10, 1990 at about 7:50 pm local time, a Cessna 172, registered N8488U, was substantially damaged in an accident near Staunton, Virginia (Shenandoah Valley airport). 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 AIRPLANE DURING A CROSSWIND LANDING.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 10, 1990 · about 7:50 pm local time
- Place
- Staunton, Virginia · Shenandoah Valley · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172 · all 172s on the register
- Registration
- N8488U · no longer on the register · serial 17252388
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT REPORTED LANDING ON THE CENTERLINE OF RWY 23. DURING THE LANDING ROLL, THE ACFT TRAVELED OFF THE LEFT SIDE OF THE RWY, THROUGH GRASS AND DOWN A STEEP EMBANKMENT, WHERE IT NOSED OVER. THE PLT REPORTED WINDS WERE FROM 270 DEGS TO 310 DEGS AT 18 KNOTS GUSTING TO 25 KNOTS. DURING A WX OBSERVATION ABOUT 5 MINUTES BEFORE THE ACCIDENT, THE WINDS WERE FROM 270 DEGS AT 8 KNOTS.
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: 183 hours in all; 59 in this make and model; 24 in the last 90 days; 16 in the last 30 days; 183 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 2,150 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-300-D (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: August Aviation CORP.
The flight
- Departed from: FDK Frederick MD at 6:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 23, 6,002 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 280° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 4,500 ft; not recorded at 4,500 ft
- Temperature: 45°F (7°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:45 pm from SHD
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.