# Accident 20200526008179A: Piper PA-24-250, South Boston, VA, May 26, 2020

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: May 26, 2020, 14:30 local time
- Place: South Boston, VA
- Airport: William M Tuck
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Landing: Approach
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 36.6992° N, 78.8999° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.6992&lon=-78.8999&mi=10
- Aircraft: N5948P, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N5948P) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-24-250 (registry code 7102404, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-24-250) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming 0-540 series (registry code 41532, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-540-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-24-250
- Reported engine: LYCOMING 0-540 SERIES
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA20LA195](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA20LA195) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20200526008179A

## Narrative

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

PILOT WAS EXECUTING A NORMAL LANDING AT W78, WILLIAM M TUCK AIRFIELD.  AIRCRAFT PERFORMED NORMALLY THROUGHOUT ALL PHASES OF FLIGHT UNTIL A SUDDEN  ENGINE FAILURE ON THE DOWNWIND LEG OF RUNWAY 19.  PILOT EXECUTED EMERGENCY PROCEDURES, BUT COULD NOT REVIVE ENGINE.  PILOT KEPT GEAR IN THE UP POSITION TO AID IN GLIDE PERFORMANCE OF AIRCRAFT.  WHILE EXECUTING A POWER OFF 180 DEGREE TURN TO RUNWAY 19, THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK AN OBSTACLE CLEARANCE MARKER WHICH IS OFFSET APPROXIMATELY 50 YARDS LEFT OF  CENTERLINE.  THE RIGHT HAND STABILIZER SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL LEADING EDGE DAMAGE.  THE PILOT HAD BEGUN LOWERING THE LANDING GEAR SECONDS BEFORE STRIKING THE OBSTACLE MARKER; THE AIRCRAFT SUBSEQUENTLY LOST LIFT AND FORWARD VELOCITY AND LANDED WITH THE LANDING GEAR PARTIALLY EXTENDED.  THE AIRCRAFT CAME TO REST ON AIRPORT PROPERTY IN THE GRASS SHORT OF RUNWAY 19.

## 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 ERA20LA195](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA20LA195), May 26, 2020: Piper PA24 (N5948P), South Boston, VA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The powerplant mechanic’s failure to properly affix the engine crankshaft gear lockplate during overhaul, resulting in a total loss of engine power.

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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