# Accident 20170703009879A: Piper PA-15, Farmville, VA, July 3, 2017

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: July 3, 2017, 14:00 local time
- Place: Farmville, VA
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Takeoff: Climb Out
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 37.2432° N, 78.5298° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.2432&lon=-78.5298&mi=10
- Aircraft: N4195H, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4195H-2020-12-05) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-15 (registry code 7101502, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-15) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Continental C85 series (registry code 17008, https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-c85-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-15
- Reported engine: CONT MOTOR C85 SERIES
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 1
- Pilot certificates: Airline transport, flight instructor
- Pilot flight hours: 16,250 total, 3 in this make and model, 24 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA17LA225](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA17LA225) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20170703009879A

## Narrative

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

PILOT MADE AN UNSCHEDULED PRECAUTIONARY LANDING IN A FIELD DUE TO A SUSPECTED FUEL TRANSFER ISSUE.  PILOT VERIFIED FUEL WAS PRESENT AND DECIDED TO TAKE OFF.  (PILOT IS ALSO AN A&P, MAINTENANCE WAS REPORTED TO BE NOT REQUIRED OR PERFORMED.) THE CONDITIONS OF THE FIELD WERE NOT ADEQUATE TO ALLOW TAKEOFF AND CLIMB QUICKLY ENOUGH TO CLEAR THE TREES.  PILOT REPORTS THAT HE STALLED THE AIRCRAFT AND ENTERED A SPIN.  THE LOW ALTITUDE CAUSED IMPACT BEFORE THE SPIN COULD FULLY DEVELOP.  THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED THE CORNFIELD AT APPROXIMATELY 90° LEFT BANK, CARTWHEELED ONCE, AND CAME TO REST UPRIGHT POINTING IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION.  AIRCRAFT DESTROYED BY A FIRE THAT WAS FED WITH A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF FUEL.

## 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 ERA17LA225](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA17LA225), Jul 3, 2017: Piper PA 15 (N4195H), Farmville, VA, destroyed. Probable cause: The pilot’s improper decision to depart from an unsuitable off-airport surface which resulted in his subsequent exceedance of the airplane's critical angle of attack, an aerodynamic stall and loss of…

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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