N5399Q – CESSNA 172M – 2011-08-13 NTSB Accident Report

On August 13, 2011, a Cessna 172M (N5399Q) was involved in an incident near Elkins, WV. All 3 people aboard were uninjured. The aircraft sustained substantial damage.

The National Transportation Safety Board determined the probable cause of this incident to be: The flight instructor's unfamiliarity with the geographic area, resulting in controlled flight into terrain.

The certified flight instructor (CFI) informed the student pilot to make a touch-and-go landing. During climb out, the CFI informed the student they would be conducting some mountain flying and to climb straight ahead over a ridge line. Upon clearing the ridge line, the CFI instructed the student to make a right turn into a canyon. After entering the canyon, the CFI realized he was in the wrong area and the airplane would be unable to clear the ridge line to their immediate front. He took control of the airplane and made a left turn towards the left side of the canyon. He then initiated a hard right turn and realized there was insufficient room to reverse course. He leveled the wings of the airplane and it collided with the trees.

This incident is documented in NTSB report ERA11CA450. AviatorDB cross-references NTSB investigation data with FAA registry records to provide comprehensive safety information for aircraft N5399Q.