# Incident 20250809009989I: Piper PA-28-181, Roanoke, VA, August 9, 2025

- Type: FAA incident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: August 9, 2025, 10:46 local time
- Place: Roanoke, VA
- Airport: Roanoke-Blacksburg Regional/Woodru
- Damage: Minor damage
- Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 37.2710° N, 79.9414° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Roanoke, VA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.2710&lon=-79.9414&mi=10
- Aircraft: N8331C, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N8331C) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-28-181 (registry code 7102807, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-181) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming O&VO-360 series (registry code 41514, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28-181
- Reported engine: LYCOMING O&VO-360 SER
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 1,983 total
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20250809009989I

## Narrative

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

THE AIRCRAFT TOOK OFF AND CLIMBED TO 6000 FEET. UPON LEVELING OFF THE TOP COWL DEPARTED THE AIRCRAFT RESULTING IN DAMAGE TO THE WINDSHIELD. THE PILOT DECLARED AN EMERGENCY, RETURNED TO THE AIRPORT AND LANDED THE AIRCRAFT NORMALLY. THE PILOT STATED HE NOTED NO COWLING DEFECTS DURING PREFLIGHT. THE MECHANIC WHO MAINTAINS THIS AIRCRAFT ALSO STATED NO KNOWN ISSSUES WITH THE COWL.

## Other reports on N8331C (1)

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

- [Incident 19970223008189I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970223008189I), Feb 23, 1997: Piper PA28181 (N8331C), Roanoke, VA. Narrative: on February 23, 1997, 12:33 lt, N8331C departed roa on runway 24. Approximately 100 feet above ground level, smoke was observed in the cabin. The…

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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