# Accident 20200902018499A: Piper PA-20-135, Luray, VA, September 2, 2020

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: September 2, 2020, 13:49 local time
- Place: Luray, VA
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 38.6642° N, 78.4545° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Luray, VA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.6642&lon=-78.4545&mi=10
- Aircraft: N7323K, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7323K-2023-06-21) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-20-135 (registry code 7102010, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-20-135) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming 0-290 series (registry code 41506, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-290-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-20-135
- Reported engine: LYCOMING 0-290 SERIES
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 1
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20200902018499A

## Narrative

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

ON SEPTEMBER 2, 2020, AT APPROXIMATELY 1400, THE WASHINGTON FSDO RECEIVED NOTIFICATION THAT N7323K, A PIPER PA-20, HAD CRASHED IN SHENNANDOA NATIONAL PARK NEAR THE MEADOW SPRINGS TRAIL HEAD.  THE ACCIDENT SITE WAS APPROXIMATLEY THREE QUARTERS OF A MILE DOWN THE TRAIL IN A DEEP RAVINE IN HEAVY VEGITATION.   THE AIRCRAFT TOOK OFF FROM MARYLAND AIRPORT (2W5) ON AUGUST 31, 2020, AT APPROXIMATLEY 1820 LOCAL TIME WITHOUT FILING A FLIGHT PLAN.  RADAR POSITION WAS LOST AT 1900 LOCAL TIME.  THE WEATHER DATA AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT INDICATED LOW CLOUDS AND RAIN WERE PRESENT.  FLIGHT TRACK INFORMATION SHOWED THE ACCIDENT AIRCRAFT IN A LEFT SPIRAL PRIOR TO IMPACT.  THE WRECKAGE WAS DISCOVERED BY HIKERS ON SEPTEMBER 2, 2020 NEAR THE BUCK HOLLOW TRAIL.

AN INSPECTION OF THE ACCIDENT SITE REVEALED THE FOLLOWING:MAIN WRECKAGE WAS FOUND WRAPPED AROUND A TREE IN DEEP RUGGED TERRAIN.  THE TREE TOP WAS RIPPED OFF AND WAS IN THE WRECKAGE.

PROPELLER WAS FOUND APPROXIMATLEY 20 FEET NORTH OF THE MAIN WRECKAGE.

THE COCKPIT AND ENGINE COULD NOT BE LOCATED AT THE ACCIDENT SITE.

AIRCRAFT MAINENANCE LOGBOOKS AND PILOTS LOGBOOKS WERE NOT RECOVERED FROM THE ACCIDENT SITE.BACKPACK WAS FOUND IN A TREE NEAR MAIN WRECKAGE.

NUMEROUS PERSONAL BELONGINGINGS WERE FOUND SOUTH OF THE OF THE ACCIDENT SITE ON THE SIDE OF THE MOUNTAIN.

NUMEROUS SMALL PIECES OF THE AIRCRAFT WERE FOUND IN THE DEBRIS FIELD.

## NTSB investigation

None matched to this report by aircraft and date. Search the NTSB's own records: https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-main-public/basic-search

## Other reports on N7323K (1)

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

- [Accident 19780628022549A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19780628022549A), Jun 28, 1978: Piper PA20115 (N7323K), Galesburg, IL, Substantial damage

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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