# NTSB BFO89FA012: Piper PA-32-300, N4194W, Meadows Of Dan, VA, November 23, 1988

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: November 23, 1988, 13:10 local (18:10 UTC)
- Place: Meadows Of Dan, VA
- Coordinates: 36.729019, -80.409873 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.7290&lon=-80.4099&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report July 9, 1990
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 11451
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=BFO89FA012
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/11451/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/BFO89FA012

## Probable cause

THE PILOT CONDUCTED VFR FLIGHT INTO IMC BECAUSE OF INADEQUATE INFLIGHT PLANNING/DECISION. THE AIRCRAFT EXPERIENCED INFLIGHT BRAKUP WHEN THE PILOT WAS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN FLIGHT WITHIN THE DESIGN STRESS LIMITS OF THE AIRCRAFT.

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, cruise
  - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor)
  - terrain condition - mountainous/hilly (contributing factor)
  - in-flight planning/decision - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - vfr flight into imc - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
- Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, cruise
  - wing - overload (cause)
  - design stress limits of aircraft - exceeded, pilot in command (cause)
  - lack of total instrument time, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

THE NON-INSTRUMENT RATED PLT TOLD WITNESSES THAT HE WOULD ATTEMPT TO CROSS MOUNTAINS NORTH OF THE DEPARTURE AIRPORT WHERE HE EXPECTED TO FIND CLEAR WEATHER BEFORE HE PROCEEDED WEST TOWARD HIS DESTINATION. A WITNESS SAID THE WEATHER AT THE DEPARTURE AIRPORT WAS ABOUT 1200 OVERCAST WITH GOOD VISIBILITY BELOW THE OVERCAST. THE PLT HAD FLOWN ABOUT 35 MILES AND WAS OVER THE BLUE RIDGE MTS, WHEN ACCORDING TO RECORDED RADAR DATA, THE ACFT BEGAN TO CHANGE COURSE ABOUT 14 TIMES, INCLUDING SEVERAL COURSE REVERSALS, DURING ABO UT A 15 MINUTE PERIOD. DURING THIS TIME THE ACFT CLIMBED FROM 2100 TO 7200 FT. A WITNESS NEAR THE ACCIDENT SITE SAID IT WAS RAINING, VISIBILITY 1000 FT, AND THE MOUNTAIN TOPS WERE OBSCURED BY CLOUDS WHEN HE HEARD THE ACFT AT FULL POWER AND CLIMBING SHORTLY BEFORE HE HEARD A 'MUFFLED' SOUND FOLLOWED BY SILENCE. THE ACFT EXPERIENCED AN INFLIGHT BREAKUP CONSISTING OF SEPARATED PORTIONS OF THE RIGHT WING AND RIGHT HORIZONTAL STABILIZER. EXAMINATION OF THE WRECKAGE DID NOT REVEAL EVIDENCE OF MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N4194W](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4194W-1989-03-27), registration cancelled 1989-03-27, S/N 3240282 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-32-300
- Registry model: [Piper PA-32-300](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32-300) (registry code 7103212) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 32-40282
- Airframe hours: 3239
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-540-K1A5 300 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Business, Part 91
- Operator: Jerry M. Jones
- Registered owner: Jerry M Jones
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, April 1, 1988
- Departed: ZEF, ELKIN, NC
- Destination: RVS, TULSA, OK

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 31; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, expired; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 473 total, 418 in this make and model, 21 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day
- Wind: 10° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 1,600 ft broken
- Temperature: 46 °F, dew point 37 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: GSO, 40 nm away

## 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 19881123051779A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19881123051779A), Nov 23, 1988: Piper PA32300, Meadows Of Dan, VA, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Tried to fly over cloud obscured mountains. Lost control in clouds. Spiral dive and pullup. Inflight breakup.

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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