# NTSB ATL81FID15: Piper PA-28, N7153R, Lawrenceville, VA, May 23, 1981

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: May 23, 1981
- Place: Lawrenceville, VA · LAWRENCEVILLE, VA
- Location: 36.7565° N, 77.8539° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Lawrenceville, VA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.7565&lon=-77.8539&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report August 21, 1981
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 125674
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL81FID15
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL81FID15

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-1429  81/5/23    LAWRENCEVILLE,VA    PIPER PA-28         CR-  0  0  1  NONCOMMERCIAL             COMMERCIAL, AGE 34, 297
        TIME - 1607                    N7153R              PX-  0  0  1  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 125 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - LAWRENCEVILLE
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION         LAST ENROUTE STOP
          MANASSAS,VA                 KERR LAKE,VA                 LAWRENCEVILLE,VA
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           UNDERSHOOT                                               LANDING: FINAL APPROACH
           GEAR COLLAPSED                                           LANDING: LEVEL OFF/TOUCHDOWN
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - MISJUDGED DISTANCE AND ALTITUDE
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - DOWNDRAFT,UPDRAFTS
           AIRPORTS/AIRWAYS/FACILITIES - AIRPORT CONDITIONS: OTHER
        WEATHER BRIEFING - UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        WEATHER FORECAST - UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          CLEAR                                                    UNLIMITED
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          5 OR OVER(UNLIMITED)                                     NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  RELATIVE BEARING OF WIND
          NONE                                                     RIGHT QUARTERING HEAD WIND 023-067 DEGREES
        TEMPERATURE-F                                            WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES
           80                                                       80
        WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS                                      TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS
           10                                                      VFR
        TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          NONE
        REMARKS- PLT RPTS HIT DNDRAFT.T/D SHORT OF RWY 36 IN ERODED AREA.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N7153R](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7153R-2025-04-15), registration cancelled 2025-04-15, S/N 28-21860, built 1966 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28-140](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-140) (registry code 7102802) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Airport: Lawrenceville

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19810523028909A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19810523028909A), May 23, 1981: Piper PA28140, Lawrenceville, VA, Substantial damage. Landed 30 feet short of runway. Severed landing gear on uneven ground.

## Other investigations on N7153R (2)

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 WPR24FA002](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR24FA002), Oct 2, 2023: Piper PA-28-140 (N7153R), Moab, UT, substantial damage, 4 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot’s loss of visual reference to the horizon while departing during dark night, which resulted in the pilot experiencing spatial disorientation and subsequent controlled flight into terrain.
- [NTSB DIA67D0055](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DIA67D0055), Mar 4, 1967: Piper PA-28 (N7153R), Haymarket, VA, substantial damage

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.

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