# NTSB BFO91LA063: Piper PA-23-250, N63817, New Market, VA, July 4, 1991

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: July 4, 1991, 08:00 local (12:00 UTC)
- Place: New Market, VA
- Coordinates: 38.640743, -78.670333 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.6407&lon=-78.6703&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious
- Status: Completed, report March 24, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 11689
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=BFO91LA063
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/11689/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/BFO91LA063

## Probable cause

THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE INFLIGHT DECISION THAT RESULTED IN VFR FLIGHT INTO IMC.

## 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 - fog (contributing factor)
  - in-flight planning/decision - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - vfr flight into imc - inadvertent, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with object, cruise
  - object - tree(s) (contributing factor)
  - clearance - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

THE PILOT WAS ADVISED DURING THE PREFLIGHT WEATHER BRIEFING THAT VFR FLIGHT WAS NOT RECOMMENDED.  THE PILOT INDICATED, DURING THE BRIEFING, THAT HE WAS GOING TO FIND AN INSTRUCTOR OR SOMEBODY WITH AN INSTRUMENT RATING TO FLY HIM TO THE INTENDED DESTINATION.  ABOUT TWO HOURS LATER THE PILOT DEPARTED ALONE; HE REPORTED THAT HE PLANNED TO EITHER TURN AROUND OR GO TO AN ALTERNATE AIRPORT, IF THE WEATHER EN ROUTE DETERIORATED. ACCORDING TO THE PILOT, HE PROCEEDED EN ROUTE BY FOLLOWING A HIGHWAY.  HE LOST SIGHT OF THE GROUND, DUE TO FOG, SO HE TURNED AROUND, BUT AS HE DID SO, THE NOSE OF THE AIRPLANE PITCHED DOWN, AND AS HE RECOVERED, HE SAW TREES IN THE PATH OF THE AIRPLANE.  THE PILOT STATED, 'I DECIDED IT WAS BEST TO PUT IT IN THE TREES.'  THE PILOT SAID THE REASON THE NOSE PITCHED DOWN WAS FROM WINDS AROUND THE NEARBY MOUNTAINS, POSSIBLY CAUSING WIND SHEAR, AND WHICH HIS ALREADY SLOWER THAN NORMAL AIRSPEED, IT CAUSED HIM TO LOSE ALTITUDE.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N63817](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N63817-2013-04-29), registration cancelled 2013-04-29, S/N 27-7754139, built 1977 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-23-250
- Registry model: [Piper PA-23-250](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-23-250) (registry code 7102308) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-540-series) (registry code 41530, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 23-7754139
- Airframe hours: 1900
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-540-C4B5 250 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: John Root
- Registered owner: John Root
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, January 17, 1991, 117 hours before
- Departed: SHD, HARRISONBURG, VA
- Destination: HGR, HAGERSTOWN, MD

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 63; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 460 total, 290 in this make and model, 400 as pilot in command, 53 in the last 90 days, 25 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day
- Wind: 50° at 4 knots
- Lowest ceiling: 200 ft overcast
- Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 73 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: CHO, 1 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 19910704025919A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19910704025919A), Jul 4, 1991: Piper PA23250, New Market, VA, Destroyed. Advised VFR not recommended. Departed. Lost sight highway and ground due clouds, rain and fog. Hit trees. Downdraft

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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