- Date
- June 1, 1989, 11:36 local (15:36 UTC)
- Place
- Criders, VA
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N2602LPiper PA-38-112
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report August 22, 1990
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19890601013979A
- Case key
- 11504
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot failed to maintain directional control of the airplane during the crosswind conditions encountered during the initial takeoff climb.
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 takeoff was being made to the east on the pilot's private airstrip. The plt reported winds from the north at 5 KTS gusting to 10 KTS. The pilot reported that after takeoff at an alt of aprx 30 ft AGL the acft veered right and descended into a wooded area which bordered the airstrip. The plt reported that there were no failures or mechanical malfunctions of the airplane or its systems.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N2602L
- Reported as
- Piper PA-38-112
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 38-79A0776
- Airframe hours
- 2,099
- Engine
- Lycoming O-235-L2C, 112 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Derwitt W. Smith
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · July 27, 1988 · 17 hours before
- Destination
- VA86 · New Market, VA
- Airport
- Smiths, runway 9, 1,800 × 100 ft, grass/turf
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
- 62
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 1,750 total · 200 in this make and model · 17 in the last 90 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 360° at 5 knots, gusting 10
- Visibility
- 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 81 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.