Cessna 172N accident near Summersville, West Virginia, April 13, 2013
On April 13, 2013 at about 3:15 pm local time, a Cessna 172N, registered N6136F, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Summersville, West Virginia (Summersville 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
The pilot's failure to maintain directional control of the airplane while landing, which resulted in a runway excursion.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 13, 2013 · about 3:15 pm local time
- Place
- Summersville, West Virginia · Summersville Airport · 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
- N6136F · no longer on the register · serial 17273154
- 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 was on a stabilized approach to the runway with right crosswind corrections in place. Upon touchdown, he heard the "tires squealing," and the airplane veered to the left. The pilot applied power to abort the landing, but the airplane ran off the left side of the runway and hit an embankment. Examination of the airplane revealed substantial damage to the right wing spar, the right wing flap, and crushing of the engine firewall. Wheel brake continuity was verified and there were no marks on the runway that were consistent with a skidding tire. The pilot did not report any preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
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 landing (landing roll) defining event
- Runway excursion during landing (landing roll)
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing (landing roll)
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: 4,408 hours in all; 3,131 in this make and model; 4 in the last 90 days; 1 in the last 30 days; 327 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: April 1, 2012
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,333 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 3, 2012; 111 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,450 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 SERIES (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: BKW Beckley WV
- Destination: SXL Summersville WV
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 22, 3,015 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 250° at 10 knots, gusting 19
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 54°F (12°C), dew point 34°F (1°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:51 pm from BKW, 28 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.