Cessna 172 accident near Emporia, Virginia, September 25, 1993
On September 25, 1993 at about 5:30 pm local time, a Cessna 172, registered N9841L, was substantially damaged in an accident near Emporia, Virginia. It was an aerial observation flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S SELECTION OF UNSUITABLE TERRAIN FOR A TAKEOFF. A FACTOR RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE PILOT'S DELAY IN INITIATING AN ABORTED TAKEOFF.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 25, 1993 · about 5:30 pm local time
- Place
- Emporia, Virginia · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172 · all 172s on the register
- Registration
- N9841L · registry record · serial 17276632
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial observation flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT PERFORMED A SUCCESSFUL PRECAUTIONARY LANDING ON A SHORT SECTION OF A COUNTY HIGHWAY WITH OBSTACLES ON BOTH ENDS OF THE SECTION. THE PRECAUTIONARY LANDING WAS PRECIPITATED BY A PARTIAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER. AFTER THE LANDING, THE PILOT DRAINED THE FUEL TANK SUMPS AND FOUND A SMALL QUANTITY OF WATER IN THE LEFT FUEL CELL. AFTER NOTING NO PROBLEMS DURING AN ENGINE RUN-UP, THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO TAKE OFF FROM THE SHORT SECTION OF HIGHWAY. HE ABORTED THE TAKEOFF, BUT COULD NOT SAFELY STOP THE AIRPLANE. IT IMPACTED TREES. BOTH WINGS AND THE VERTICAL STABILIZER WERE DAMAGED. THE PILOT REPORTED NO MECHANICAL MALFUNCTIONS, AND AN EXAMINATION OF THE AIRPLANE DID NOT REVEAL ANY EVIDENCE OF PRE-IMPACT MECHANICAL DEFICIENCIES.
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: 1,200 hours in all; 700 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 2,400 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-02J (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Civil Air Patrol, INC.
The flight
- Departed from: PVG Hampton Roads VA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 1,200 ft; clear
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:50 pm from ORF, 60 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number BFO93LA184.