Cessna 172N accident near Tangier Island, Virginia, September 11, 1993
On September 11, 1993 at about 1:40 pm local time, a Cessna 172N, registered N5347J, was substantially damaged in an accident near Tangier Island, Virginia (Tangier Island airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT DURING A GO-AROUND. A FACTOR RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WAS: THE CROSSWIND CONDITION.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 11, 1993 · about 1:40 pm local time
- Place
- Tangier Island, Virginia · Tangier Island · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172N · all 172Ns on the register
- Registration
- N5347J · no longer on the register · serial 17273761
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
ACCORDING TO THE PILOT, THE AIRPLANE PERFORMED SLUGGISHLY AS HE WAS MAKING AN APPROACH TO LAND. HE FLEW ONTO FINAL APPROACH AND NOTED THERE WAS ABOUT A 5 TO 7 KNOT CROSSWIND FROM LEFT TO RIGHT. HE SAID HE CONTINUED HIS APPROACH IN A 'SLIP' POSITION WITHOUT TRYING TO SLIP. HE SAID THAT WITH 'HANDS OFF' ON THE APPROACH, THE NOSE WAS ABOUT 10 DEGREES OFF TO THE LEFT OF THE RUNWAY. ALSO, HE SAID THAT NO AMOUNT OF RIGHT RUDDER WOULD LINE THE PLANE UP TO THE RUNWAY. AT ABOUT 40 TO 50 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND, HE DECIDED TO GO AROUND. THE PILOT STATED THAT THE AIRPLANE GAINED ABOUT 50 FEET OF ALTITUDE, THEN IT DESCENDED AND VEERED OFF TO THE RIGHT. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE AIRPLANE IMPACTED IN A MARSH AREA AND NOSED OVER. AN EXAM REVEALED THAT AN AILERON CABLE HAD SEPARATED; HOWEVER, THERE WAS EVIDENCE THAT IT HAD SEPARATED DURING IMPACT. NOT PREIMPACT PART FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION WAS FOUND.
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: 126 hours in all; 77 in this make and model; 20 in the last 90 days; 7 in the last 30 days; 83 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 2,150 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-H2AD (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Reichard Aviation INC.
The flight
- Departed from: VKX Friendly MD at 1:00 pm
- Destination: TGI
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 2, 3,600 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 330° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 46°F (8°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 12:55 pm from SBY, 40 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.