- Date
- May 31, 2009, 14:35 local (18:35 UTC)
- Place
- Aurora, WV
- Injuries
- 2 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- N4824APiper PA-22
- Defining event
- Enroute: Fuel related
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report September 10, 2009
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties
- FAA/FSDO
- Case key
- 73939
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’s inadequate preflight planning and preparation which resulted in a low fuel condition requiring an off-airport landing.
Findings · 3
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
The pilot departed from Suffolk, Virginia, at about 1105, with full fuel tanks, en route to Elkins, West Virginia (EKN). While en route at about 6,000 feet above ground level, he encountered weather over the mountains which prevented him from continuing direct to EKN under visual meteorological conditions. At that time he chose to fly north, up the valley, in hopes of finding a break in the weather. After about 40 minutes, he was unable to continue due to low fuel, and decided to land in a farm pasture. Upon landing, he discovered the grass to be much taller than anticipated. The airplane became entangled, resulting in a nose-over that substantially damaged the vertical stabilizer and wings. The pilot did not report any preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions.
Factual narrative
The pilot departed Suffolk Executive Airport (SFQ), Suffolk, Virginia, at about 1105, with full fuel tanks, enroute to Elkins, (EKN), West Virginia. While enroute at about 6,000 feet above ground level, he encountered weather over the mountains which prevented him from continuing direct to EKN under visual meteorological conditions. At that time he chose to fly north up the valley in hopes of finding a break in the weather. After about 40 minutes, he was unable to continue due to low fuel, and decided to land in a farm pasture. Upon landing, he discovered the grass to be much taller than anticipated. The airplane became entangled resulting in a nose over substantially damaging the vertical stabilizer and wings. The pilot did not report any preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N4824A
- Reported as
- Piper PA-22 (150)
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 22-3977
- Airframe hours
- 3,212
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320, 150 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · September 8, 2008 · 59 hours before
- Departed
- SFQ · Suffolk, VA
- Destination
- EKN · Elkins, WV
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
- 60
- Injuries
- Minor
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- May 11, 2009
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 157 total · 157 in this make and model · 95 as pilot in command · 26 in the last 90 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 300° at 7 knots, gusting 14
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 2,200 ft broken
- Temperature
- 59 °F, dew point 52 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.93 inHg
- Observed at
- 2G4
Docket · 3
The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 27, 2009, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 1.5 MB in all.