Boeing PT17 accident near Fayetteville, West Virginia, October 17, 2010
On October 17, 2010 at about 10:30 pm local time, a Boeing PT17, registered N55464, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Fayetteville, West Virginia (Fayette Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the takeoff roll.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 17, 2010 · about 10:30 pm local time
- Place
- Fayetteville, West Virginia · Fayette Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Boeing PT17 · all PT17s on the register
- Registration
- N55464 · registry record · serial 75-272
- 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, during the takeoff roll the airplane veered to the right. The pilot over compensated with rudder application and the airplane impacted a runway light. He reduced engine power in an attempt to regain control and subsequently reapplied engine power in an effort to clear a fence at the end of the runway and land the airplane in a grass area beyond the fence. During the landing, the airplane impacted a pile of dirt, resulting in substantial damage to the bottom left wing. The pilot stated that there were no mechanical malfunctions or anomalies with the airplane.
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
What happened, in order
- Loss of control on ground during takeoff defining event
- Runway excursion during takeoff
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during takeoff
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 1,700 hours in all; 110 in this make and model; 15 in the last 90 days; 7 in the last 30 days; 1,700 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: November 1, 2009
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rear
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,769 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 14, 2010
- Maximum gross weight: 2,635 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental Series 220 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: WV59 Fayetteville WV at 10:30 pm
- Destination: WV59 Fayetteville WV
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 21, 2,010 ft by 20 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Wind: from 260° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 39°F (4°C)
- Altimeter: 30.04 inHg
- Observation at 10:51 pm from BKW, 14 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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 N55464 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.