Cessna 172M accident near Beckley, West Virginia, June 25, 1991
On June 25, 1991 at about 8:15 am local time, a Cessna 172M, registered N20430, was destroyed in an accident near Beckley, West Virginia. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO ATTAIN ADEQUATE FLYING SPEED.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 25, 1991 · about 8:15 am local time
- Place
- Beckley, West Virginia · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172M · all 172Ms on the register
- Registration
- N20430 · registry record · serial 17261282
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT REPORTED THAT AFTER HE TOOK OFF THE ACFT WOULD NOT CLIMB PAST 100 FEET. HE STATED THE AIRSPEED WAS 70 KNOT, AND THE FLAPS WERE DOWN 10 DEGREES. HE SAID THE ENGINE WAS RUNNING THE ENTIRE TIME. HE CONTINUED FLYING STRAIGHT HEAD WHILE TRYING TO MAINTAIN AIRSPEED. THE ACFT SUBSEQUENTLY MUSHED AND STRUCK TREES ABOUT A MILE BEYOND THE END OF THE RUNWAY.
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: 90 hours in all; 30 in this make and model; 4 in the last 90 days; 1 in the last 30 days; 70 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,882 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 2, 1990; 82 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: Ocean Isle NC
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: not reported
- Wind: from 150° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat
- Temperature: 59°F (15°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
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.