# NTSB ERA10CA017: Piper PA28, N43620, Lebanon, VA, October 10, 2009 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: October 10, 2009, 16:00 local (20:00 UTC) - Place: Lebanon, VA - Coordinates: 36.976943, -81.797775 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.9769&lon=-81.7978&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-cruise: Controlled flight into terr/obj (CFIT)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 2 minor - Status: Completed, report March 3, 2010 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 74900 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA10CA017 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/74900/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74900 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA10CA017 ## Probable cause The pilot’s decision to continue flight under visual flight rules into known deteriorating weather conditions, which resulted in controlled flight into terrain. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Ceiling/visibility/precip: below VFR minima](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03035075): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Decision related to condition (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-151, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03035075/cases.md?model=7102805), [All aircraft, 184 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03035075/cases.md) - [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-151, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=7102805), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute-cruise: VFR encounter with IMC](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/401); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-151, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/401/sequence.md?model=7102805), [All aircraft, 392 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/401/sequence.md) - [Enroute-cruise: Controlled flight into terr/obj (CFIT)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-151, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120/sequence.md?model=7102805), [All aircraft, 1,074 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot stated that he was in cruise flight at 2,500 feet when he encountered low clouds and fog. He lost visual contact with the ground and initiated a climbing left turn. Seconds later, he impacted rising terrain which resulted in substantial damage to the wings, fuselage, and the empennage. Prior to the flight, the pilot obtained a weather briefing from a flight service station that forecasted overcast ceilings at 3,000 feet and 10 miles visibility near the route of flight with conditions improving throughout the day. The pilot stated that the weather at the time of the accident was approximately 5 miles visibility, with an overcast ceiling at 3,000 feet. ## Factual narrative The pilot stated that he was in cruise flight at 2,500 feet when he encountered low clouds and fog. He lost visual contact with the ground and initiated a climbing left turn. Seconds later, he impacted rising terrain which resulted in substantial damaged to the wings, fuselage, and the empennage. Prior to the flight, the pilot obtained a weather briefing from a flight service station that forecasted overcast ceilings at 3,000 feet and 10 miles visibility near the route of flight with conditions improving throughout the day. The pilot stated the weather at the time of the accident was approximately 5 miles visibility, with an overcast ceiling at 3,000 feet. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N43620](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N43620-2013-08-19), registration cancelled 2013-08-19, S/N 28-7415539, built 1974 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA28 (151) - Registry model: [Piper PA-28-151](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-151) (registry code 7102805) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 28-7415539 - Airframe hours: 4727 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320 160 hp reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 19, 2009, 75 hours before - Departed: LUK, Cincinnati, OH - Destination: 8A7, Mocksville, NC ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 60; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review August 11, 2009; seat: left; flight hours: 277 total, 125 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day - Wind: 310° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 3,800 ft overcast - Temperature: 61 °F, dew point 54 °F - Altimeter: 30.12 inHg - Observed at: VJI, 24 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 20091010050839A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20091010050839A), Oct 10, 2009: Piper PA28-151, Claypool Hill, VA, Destroyed. Claypool Hill, VA: N43620, a Piper PA-28-151, departed cincinnati, oh (luk) enroute VFR to mocksville, NC (8A7), crashed in a mountainous wooded area due to… ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 3, 2009, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74900. 753 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 753 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40321168&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.