Cessna 172P accident near Pembroke, Virginia, September 4, 1993
On September 4, 1993 at about 4:40 pm local time, a Cessna 172P, registered N50927, was destroyed in an accident near Pembroke, Virginia. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed and 3 people were seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN PROPER ALTITUDE WHILE MANUEVERING IN MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 4, 1993 · about 4:40 pm local time
- Place
- Pembroke, Virginia · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed and 3 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172P · all 172Ps on the register
- Registration
- N50927 · registry record · serial 17274235
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE WAS FLYING THE AIRPLANE OVER CLIMBING MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN WITH THREE PASSENGERS ON BOARD. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE DID NOT THINK THE AIRPLANE'S ENGINE WAS DEVELOPING ENOUGH POWER TO MAKE IT TO THE TOP OF THE MOUNTAIN SO HE INITIATED A LEFT 180-DEGREE TURN TO GO BACK DOWN THE MOUNTIAN'S SIDE. DURING THE TURN, THE AIRPLANE LOST ALTITUDE AND THE AIRPLANE'S LEFT WING IMPACTED A TREE. THE AIRPLANE CONTINUED TO DESCEND THROUGH THE TREES AND CAME TO REST INVERTED. THE PILOT STATED AFTER THE ACCIDENT THAT THERE WERE NO INDICATIONS OF AN ENGINE PROBLEM IN THE COCKPIT PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT AND HE DID NOT THINK THERE WERE ANY ENGINE OR AIRFRAME ANOMALIES PRIOR TO IMPACTING THE TREE.
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: 70 hours in all; 30 in this make and model; 6 in the last 90 days; 48 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (expired)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,232 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, June 19, 1993; 96 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,400 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-D2J (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Air Chesterfield INC.
The flight
- Departed from: BCB Blacksburg VA at 5:00 pm
- Destination: BCB
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 260° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 4,500 ft; scat at 900 ft
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 70°F (21°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:50 pm from ROA, 10 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 2 |
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.