# NTSB ATL83FA186: Piper PA-18, N90910, Ft. Pickett, VA, August 21, 1982

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: August 20, 1982, 21:27 local (Aug 21, 1982, 01:27 UTC)
- Place: Ft. Pickett, VA
- Location: 37.0416° N, 77.9480° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Fort Pickett, VA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.0416&lon=-77.9480&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Unknown](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/990) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report August 20, 1983
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 70787
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL83FA186
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/70787/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL83FA186

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of control - in flight, unknown
  - light condition - dark night (contributing factor)
  - became lost/disoriented - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
  - visual/aural perception, pilot in command (cause)
  - in-flight planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - low pass - performed, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - spiral - not corrected, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, unknown

## Analysis

THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH THE GROUND AT FT PICKETT SHORTLY AFTER A SIMILIAR ACFT WAS SEEN TRYING TO APPROACH BLACKSTONE ARMY AIRFIELD. THIS ACFT MADE A GO-AROUND AND DISAPPEARED TO THE SOUTH. THE WRECKED ACFT WAS FOUND 3.5 MILES SOUTH OF THE ARPT 8 MONTHS LATER. THE AIRCRAFT HAD HIT LEFT WING FIRST AND BOUNCED ABOUT 80 FT TO A FINAL RESTING PLACE WITH THE RIGHT WING FOLDED OVER THE LEFT. THE FLAMMABLE PARTS OF THE WRECKAGE WERE CONSUMED IN A POST ACCIDENT FIRE. THE ONLY COCKPIT INSTRUMENT READABLE WAS THE VSI WHICH SHOWED MORE THAN 2000 FT/MINUTE DESCENT. THIS ACFT WAS FROM MANASSAS AND HAD LANDED AT CHESTERFIELD FOR FUEL. ITS DESTINATION WAS FREDERICKSBURG WHICH IS ABOUT 55 MILES NORTH OF CHESTERFIELD. AFTER DEPARTURE AT 1935 HOURS EDT IT DISAPPEARED, AND WAS NEXT OBSERVED AT BLACKSTONE, 25 NM SW OF CHESTERFIELD, AT 2110HOURS. EXAMINATION OF THE WRECKAGE AND THE PILOTS REMAINS DID NOT DISCLOSE ANY ABNORMALITIES WHICH WOULD HAVE BEEN CAUSAL IN NATURE.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N90910](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N90910-2013-06-05), registration cancelled 2013-06-05, S/N 18-8109046, built 1981 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-18
- Registry model: [Piper PA-18-150](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-18-150) (registry code 7101828) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 18-8109046
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-A2B 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: C. Martin Jr.
- Registered owner: C. Martin Jr.
- Departed: CHESTERFIELD, VA
- Destination: FREDERICKSBURG, VA
- Airport: runway 36

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 69; private; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; medical: class 3, invalid medical for flight; flight hours: 1,764 total, 38 in this make and model, 11 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark
- Visibility: 5 statute miles

## 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 19820820069939A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19820820069939A), Aug 20, 1982: Piper PA18150, Ft Pickett, VA, Destroyed. Witness saw aircraft trying to land on a street and afb runway. Found burned wreckage with bullet hole on 4-14-83

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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