Gordonsville - Charlottesville

On July 22, 1987 at 09:30 AM, Gordonsville - Charlottesville experienced a crash involving Cessna 421A Golden Eagle I, operated by Donald A. Henke, with the event recorded near Gordonsville Virginia.

The flight was categorized as private and the reported phase was takeoff (climb) at a airport (less than 10 km from airport) crash site.

1 people were known to be on board, 0 fatalities were recorded, 1 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 0.0%.

Crew on board: 1, crew fatalities: 0, passengers on board: 0, passenger fatalities: 0, other fatalities: 0.

The listed crash cause is human factor. The pilot began taking off from a downward sloping, 2,300 feet runway in light winds. The reported temperature was 92°; the density altitude was about 2,500 feet. The pilot reported the aircraft accelerated normally to V1 speed; however, it hit the tops of trees about 350 to 500 feet beyond the runway, then struck the ground after traveling about another 1,000 feet. Performance charts showed the aircraft would have needed a takeoff distance of 2,200 feet to clear a 50 feet obstacle in calm wind. The pilot reported the wind was from 010° at 3 to 5 knots. A witness reported a 3 to 5 knot tailwind. No preimpact part failure or malfunction was found.

Aircraft reference details include registration N9764J, MSN 421A-0028, year of manufacture 1967.

Geospatial coordinates for this crash are approximately 38.1347°, -78.1865°.