On August 26, 2007, a Cessna 172 (registration N6670A) was involved in an aviation accident near Julian, WV. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's inadequate preflight planning. Contributing to the accident were the overcast cloud conditions and the pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive; 1 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.
A non-instrument-rated pilot flying a Cessna 172 with a passenger encountered low clouds at both the destination and departure airports, made a precautionary landing in a field, and lost control during the landing roll, resulting in substantial damage.
Synopsis
A non-instrument-rated pilot and a passenger departed in a Cessna 172 under clear skies for an early morning breakfast at an airport approximately 125 nautical miles to the northeast. Upon reaching the destination, the pilot could not descend below a cloud layer and decided to return to the departure airport. That airport was also covered by a low cloud layer, so the pilot continued south toward rising terrain in search of a suitable airport. About 15 miles away, the pilot found a hole in the clouds and descended. With continued low ceilings and low fuel, the pilot performed a precautionary landing to a field.
Accident Details
During the landing roll, the pilot reported losing control of the airplane. The right wingtip struck the ground, followed by the left main landing gear folding inboard, the nose landing gear collapsing, and the outboard 3 feet of the left wing bending upward approximately 30 degrees. The pilot had not obtained a weather briefing or filed a flight plan. No mechanical anomalies were noted with the airplane.
What happened in the 26 Aug 2007 Cessna 172 accident near Julian, WV?
A non-instrument-rated pilot flying a Cessna 172 with a passenger encountered low clouds at both the destination and departure airports, made a precautionary landing in a field, and lost control during the landing roll, resulting in substantial damage.
Were there any fatalities in the 26 Aug 2007 Cessna 172 accident?
No fatalities were recorded in this accident.
What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?
The accident on 26 Aug 2007 involved a Cessna 172, registration N6670A, at Julian, WV.
What was the probable cause of the accident?
The pilot's inadequate preflight planning. Contributing to the accident were the overcast cloud conditions and the pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll.
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