Cessna 172 accident near Newport News, Virginia, October 6, 2022
On October 6, 2022 at about 7:07 pm local time, a 1984 Cessna 172, registered N97883, was substantially damaged in an accident during initial climb near Newport News, Virginia (Newport News/Williamsburg Intl airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed and 2 people were seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The flight instructor’s failure to monitor the student pilot on takeoff and her delayed remedial action to stop him from exceeding the airplane’s critical angle of attack, which resulted in a low altitude aerodynamic stall from which she was unable to recover.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 6, 2022 · about 7:07 pm local time
- Place
- Newport News, Virginia · Newport News/Williamsburg Intl · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed and 2 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172 P, built 1984 · all 172s on the register
- Registration
- N97883 · registry record · serial 17276237
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The flight instructor was giving the student pilot his first flight lesson in an airplane. According to the pilot-rated passenger, who was observing the flight in the back seat, the student pilot assisted with the takeoff. The instructor told the student that she would tell him when to start pulling back during the takeoff roll. The instructor then initiated the takeoff roll and when the airplane reached rotation speed, she told the student pilot to start pulling back. The student pilot pulled back on the control wheel and the airplane began to climb. However, he continued to pull back and the airplane stalled less than 200 ft above the ground. The left wing dropped, and the airplane descended toward the ground. The flight instructor tried to get control of the airplane, but it was too late, and the airplane impacted a ditch adjacent to the runway. A postaccident examination of the airplane and engine revealed no evidence of any preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. Though part of the flight lesson syllabus included instruction on the positive exchange of flight controls, the student pilot could not recall what instruction the flight instructor gave him regarding the takeoff. His only memory of the flight was when the airplane was airborne and stalling. He did not remember if his hands were on the controls. The pilot-rated passenger did not recall the flight instructor discussing positive transfer of the flight controls before taking off. Though the flight instructor provided the student pilot instruction on how to perform the takeoff, she most likely did not anticipate that he would continue to pull back on the controls after the airplane became airborne. The airplane then exceeded its critical angle of attack and stalled. The instructor attempted to regain control, but the airplane did not have sufficient altitude to recover and it impacted the ground.
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 in flight during initial climb
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during uncontrolled descent
- Aerodynamic stall/spin during initial climb defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Instructor/check pilot
- Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Monitoring other person › Instructor/check pilot
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Delayed action › Instructor/check pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Pitch control › Capability exceeded
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Airspeed › Not attained/maintained
Flight instructor
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 333.8 hours in all; 299.5 as pilot in command; 75.5 on instruments
- Last flight review: April 20, 2022
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: fatal
Dual student
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 0 hours in all; 0 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: serious injuries
Pilot-Rated Passenger
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Last flight review: August 26, 2021
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rear
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 12,472 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, September 27, 2022; 8.2 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,408 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 D2J (piston); 586 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 20, 6,526 ft by 150 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 50°F (10°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:54 pm from PHF
Weather report (METAR): KPHF 061854Z AUTO 27007KT lOSM CLR 24/10 A3000
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | 1 | ||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
17 documents, released by the NTSB on April 10, 2024. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
Other NTSB records under N97883 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.