Cessna 172P accident near Axton, Virginia, December 2, 1990
On December 2, 1990 at about 9:50 pm local time, a Cessna 172P, registered N55276, was destroyed in an accident near Axton, Virginia (Davis airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE CLEARANCE WITH AN OBSTACLE. CONTRIBUTING WAS AN UNMARKED POWERLINE AND THE PILOT'S LACK OF FAMILIARITY WITH THE GEOGRAPHICAL AREA.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 2, 1990 · about 9:50 pm local time
- Place
- Axton, Virginia · Davis · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172P · all 172Ps on the register
- Registration
- N55276 · no longer on the register · serial 17275149
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE AIRPLANE STRUCK A 30 FOOT HIGH UNMARKED POWERLINE ABOUT 20 FEET SHORT OF THE RUNWAY OF A PRIVATE GRASS AIRSTRIP. THE AIRPLANE CAME TO REST INVERTED ON THE RUNWAY. THE INVESTIGATION DID NOT REVEAL EVIDENCE INDICATING THE PILOT HAD PREVIOUSLY LANDED AT THE AIRPORT. THE EXAMINATION OF THE AIRPLANE DID NOT REVEAL EVIDENCE OF 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: 375 hours in all; 205 in this make and model; 12 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days; 273 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 27, 1990
- Maximum gross weight: 2,400 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-D2J (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 6VA2 Martinsville VA
- Destination: 1
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0, 2,500 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 030° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 8,000 ft; scat at 4,000 ft
- Temperature: 59°F (15°C), dew point 50°F (10°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:45 pm from DAN, 24 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.
Other NTSB records under N55276 the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.