No fatalities

2 May 2021: CESSNA 172S NO SERIES — HEAVY METAL AIR LLC — Martinsville, VA

Martinsville, VA, United States

On 2 May 2021, a CESSNA 172S NO SERIES operated by HEAVY METAL AIR LLC was involved in an aviation accident near Martinsville, VA. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot’s improper pitch control during a go-around in gusting crosswind conditions, which resulted in a tail strike and a runway excursion. This summary draws on records from NTSB; 12 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

SourcesNTSBPrimary reportUpdated 1778583330Data APIEditorial standards

Probable cause

The pilot’s improper pitch control during a go-around in gusting crosswind conditions, which resulted in a tail strike and a runway excursion.

— NTSB Determination

Contributing factors

PilotIncorrect use/operation