Cessna 172L accident near Culpeper, Virginia, April 27, 1996
On April 27, 1996 at about 7:30 pm local time, a Cessna 172L, registered N7546G, was substantially damaged in an accident near Culpeper, Virginia (Culpeper Regional airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's improper compensation for the crosswind.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 27, 1996 · about 7:30 pm local time
- Place
- Culpeper, Virginia · Culpeper Regional · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172L · all 172Ls on the register
- Registration
- N7546G · no longer on the register · serial 17259246
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The newly licensed private pilot stated that he flew over the uncontrolled airport and did not notice any appreciable wind. He then decided to land to the northeast on runway 4. The pilot stated that he landed on the center of the runway, but the airplane began to drift to the left. He knew the airplane was drifting to the left and wanted to apply right rudder but actually applied left rudder and possibly some brake by mistake. No weather was recorded at the airport, but a large commercial airport to the northeast reported winds from 300 magnetic at 14 knots at the time of the accident.
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: 59 hours in all; 6 in this make and model; 27 in the last 90 days; 22 in the last 30 days; 8 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,763 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 28, 1996; 17 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: BLF Bluefield WV at 5:00 pm
- Destination: W49 VA
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 4, 4,002 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 300° at 14 knots
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; clear
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 30°F (-1°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:51 pm from IAD, 32 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
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.