# NTSB BFO89FA081: Piper PA-28-180, N44510, Stuarts Draft, VA, April 7, 1989

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: April 7, 1989, 10:05 local (15:05 UTC)
- Place: Stuarts Draft, VA
- Coordinates: 38.020885, -79.019432 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.0209&lon=-79.0194&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed, report June 26, 1992
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 11474
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=BFO89FA081
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/11474/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/BFO89FA081

## Probable cause

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN CLEARANCE ABOVE THE TERRAIN AFTER FLYING VFR INTO IMC. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WERE THE LOW CEILING AND FOG CONDITIONS AND THE MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN.

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight collision with terrain/water, cruise - normal
  - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - fog (contributing factor)
  - vfr flight into imc - performed, pilot in command (cause)
  - terrain condition - mountainous/hilly (contributing factor)
  - clearance - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

THE ACFT DEPARTED FOR THE X-COUNTRY AND FAILED TO ARRIVE AT ITS DESTINATION. IT WAS REPORTED MISSING ON 4-19-89. SEARCH EFFORTS FAILED TO LOCATE THE ACFT. THE ACFT WAS LOCATED ON 11-14-89 BY A LOCAL HUNTER. THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH TERRAIN AT THE 3,000 FT LEVEL NEAR THE TOP OF A MOUNTAIN. WEATHER ALONG THE ROUTE OF FLT AND NEAR THE ACCIDENT SITE WAS FORECAST TO HAVE BEEN MARGINAL VFR TO IFR. THE CLOSEST REPORTING STATION REPORTED CEILINGS NEAR THE ELEVATION OF THE ACCIDENT SITE. NO MECHANICAL FAILURE/MALFUNCTION OF THE ACFT OR ENGINE WAS NOTED DURING THE INVESTIGATION. ALTHOUGH THE FUEL TANKS WERE RUPTURED, THE ACFT HAD BEEN REFUELED PRIOR TO ITS DEPARTURE AND SHOULD HAVE HAD SUFFICIENT FUEL TO CONTINUE PAST THE ACCIDENT LOCATION.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N44510](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N44510-1994-08-22), registration cancelled 1994-08-22, S/N 287405250 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28-180
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28-180](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-180) (registry code 7102808) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 28-7405250
- Airframe hours: 2434
- Engines: LYCOMING O-360-A4A 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Melvin M. Bloom
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, April 1, 1989
- Departed: 2G6, MEADVILLE, PA
- Destination: ORL, ORLANDO, FL

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 50; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; flight hours: 2,850 total, 1,500 in this make and model, 2,670 as pilot in command

## Weather

- Conditions: Dawn
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 4 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 3,000 ft overcast
- Temperature: 37 °F
- Observed at: SHD, 15 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 19890407045359A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19890407045359A), Apr 7, 1989: Piper PA28180, Stuarts Draft, VA, Destroyed, 2 fatal. Flew into trees on a cloud obscured mountain. No record of weather briefing and no flight plan filed.

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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