# Accident 20070823829569A: Sukhoi SU31, Paris, VA, August 23, 2007

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: August 23, 2007, 13:35 local time
- Place: Paris, VA
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Normal Cruise
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 38.9769° N, 77.9531° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.9769&lon=-77.9531&mi=10
- Aircraft: N131BW, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N131BW-2007-11-09) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Sukhoi SU-31 (registry code 9850105, https://openairdocs.org/model/sukhoi-su-31) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Amateur-built UNKNOWN ENG (registry code 99999, https://openairdocs.org/engine/amateur-built-unknown-eng) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: SUKHOI SU31
- Reported engine: VEDENY M14PF
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 5,400 total, 350 in this make and model, 40 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB NYC07LA201](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC07LA201) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20070823829569A

## Narrative

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

(-23) FLIGHT WAS TO BE FROM W66 (WARRENTON, VA) TO N57 (NEW GARDEN AIRPORT IN TOUGHKENAMON, PA). THE AIRMAN WAS CIRCLING AROUND THE DULLES CLASS B AND ADIZ AIRSPACE TO THE WEST. AROUND 15 OR 16 MINUTES INTO THE FLIGHT HE STARTED SMELLING A LIGHT GAS SMELL. HE OPENED THE VENTILATION AND STARTED TO THINK ABOUT WHAT TO DO: 1) GO BACK TO W66, 2) LAND IN A FIELD, OR 3) GO TO OKV (WINCHESTER, VA). NEXT HE NOTICED A LITTLE GAS ON THE FLOORBOARD AND THAT IS THE LAST THING HE REMEMBERS PRIOR TO IMPACTING THE MOUNTAIN. ACCORDING TO METARS IN THE AREA AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT THE WEATHER WAS 5-8 MILES VISIBILITY AND 1200-1500 OVC CEILINGS. AIRCRAFT IMPACTED THE MOUNTAIN AND WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED BY FIRE.

## 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 NYC07LA201](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC07LA201), Aug 23, 2007: Sukhoi SU-31 (N131BW), Markham, VA, destroyed. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control. Contributing to the accident were a fuel leak as reported by the pilot, the pilot's diverted attention, a low cloud ceiling, and fog.

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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