- Date
- November 27, 1987, 18:36 local (23:36 UTC)
- Place
- Willis, VA
- Injuries
- 3 fatal
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- N4832SPiper PA-32-260B
- Weather
- Instrument (IMC) · Night/dark
- Status
- Completed · report February 14, 1989
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Case key
- 11353
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The acft was on a night IFR flight at 7000 ft MSL in IMC when the plt reported the directional gyro was inoperative. The acft was outbound from the pulaski VOR on V45 headed southeast. The plt further reported the turn&bank and the mag compass were operative. Shortly afterwards the plt was unable to maintain the correct course. The acft eventually reversed course. While ATC was trying to help the plt return to the correct course the acft descended and collided with the ground. Witnesses near the accident site reported poor visibility, low clouds, and fog. The aircraft's IMC capability could not be accurately determined due to the extensive fire and impact damage. Examination of the engine driven vacuum pump did not reveal conclusive evidence of failure. The acft was equipped with a standby vacuum system, however, operation of the system could not be confirmed. The plt had flown the first leg (4.0 hrs.) To drop off pax and was returning to his home base. The acft had flown about 3 hrs. On this leg.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N4832S
- Reported as
- Piper PA-32-260B
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 32-1263
- Engine
- Lycoming O-540-E4B5, 260 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Fire
- On-Ground
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Cosco Signs, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · May 12, 1987
- Departed
- Lima, OH
- Destination
- INT · Winston-Salem, NC
- Flight plan
- IFR
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 41
- Certificates
- Flight instructor, Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 1, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Toxicology
- Performed
- Flight hours
- 931 total · 109 in this make and model · 867 as pilot in command · 320 in the last 90 days · 39 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Instrument (IMC) · Night/dark
- Wind
- 60° at 10 knots
- Visibility
- 2 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 200 ft overcast
- Temperature
- 39 °F, dew point -0 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- INT, 3 nm away