# Accident 19900209001829A: Piper PA28181, Norton, VA, February 9, 1990

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: February 9, 1990, 13:30 local time
- Place: Norton, VA
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Scud Running
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 36.9310° N, 82.6210° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.9310&lon=-82.6210&mi=10
- Aircraft: N40793, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N40793-1990-07-19) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-28-180 (registry code 7102808, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-180) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA28181
- Reported engine: LYC O360A4A
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 2
- Pilot flight hours: 18,000 total
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB BFO90FA024](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/BFO90FA024) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19900209001829A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

FLEW INTO TREES NEAR MOUNTAIN TOP. LOW CEILING AND VISIBILITY IN AREA WITH LIGHT RAIN.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB BFO90FA024](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/BFO90FA024), Feb 9, 1990: Piper PA-28-180 (N40793), Norton, VA, destroyed, 2 fatal. Probable cause: PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE CLEARANCE OVER MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN WHEN CONTINUING TO FLY INTO DETERIORATING WEATHER CONDITIONS. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE PILOT'S LACK OF INSTRUMENT…

## Other reports on N40793 (2)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Incident 19850428027509I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19850428027509I), Apr 28, 1985: Piper PA28180 (N40793), Chicago, IL, Minor damage. Lost directional control when left main gear torque link broke.
- [Accident 19830204004959A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19830204004959A), Feb 4, 1983: Piper PA28180 (N40793), Chicago, IL, Substantial damage. Aircraft was started and ran into parked aircraft on ramp. Snow on ramp surface.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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