Cessna 150D accident near Moneta, Virginia, February 20, 1992
On February 20, 1992 at about 10:00 pm local time, a Cessna 150D, registered N4373U, was substantially damaged in an accident near Moneta, Virginia (Moneta-Smith Mtn Lake 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 OF THE AIRPLANE DURING LANDING WITH A CROSSWIND.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 20, 1992 · about 10:00 pm local time
- Place
- Moneta, Virginia · Moneta-Smith Mtn Lake · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150D · all 150Ds on the register
- Registration
- N4373U · no longer on the register · serial 15060373
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT COULD NOT GET AN AIRPORT ADVISORY FROM UNICOM SO HE OBSERVED THE WIND SOCK. HE SAID, '...[SOCK] INDICATED A NO WIND, NO GUST, FLAT POSITION.' THE LAST WIND INFORMATION HE HAD WAS THAT THE WINDS WERE FROM THE NORTHWEST. HE DECIDED TO LAND ON RUNWAY 5 AND, JUST PRIOR TO TOUCHDOWN, HE ENCOUNTERED A LEFT CROSSWIND. THE PILOT STATED THAT THE WIND PUSHED THE AIRPLANE 60 TO 70 FEET BEFORE HE COULD ATTEMPT A GO AROUND. THE AIRPLANE IMPACTED THE GROUND AND THE NOSE STRUT COLLAPSED.
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: student
- Flight time: 66 hours in all; 66 in this make and model; 33 in the last 90 days; 15 in the last 30 days; 29 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 15, 1992; 7 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200A (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Parker Charter INC.
The flight
- Departed from: HLX Hillsville VA at 9:00 pm
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 5, 3,050 ft by 51 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 310° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 4,000 ft
- Temperature: 46°F (8°C), dew point 28°F (-2°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:50 pm from ROA, 60 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.
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.