MIA08LA004

NTSB accident investigation · Piper PA-28-160 · Hillsville, VA · October 10, 2007

Accident · Serious injuriesLimited investigationFinal report
Date
October 10, 2007, 10:44 local (14:44 UTC)
Place
Hillsville, VA
Injuries
3 serious
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Approach
Aircraft
N5235WPiper PA-28-160
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report September 26, 2008
Report
Approved by Office Director
Parties
FAA/ FSDO
Case key
66861

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

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Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain control of the airplane during a go-around.

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.

Loss of control - in flightGo-around (vfr)
Aircraft control - not maintainedPilot in commandCause
In flight collision with objectLanding - aborted
Object - tree(s)

Analysis

According to the brother of the pilot, he was watching the pilot land, and he saw the airplane veer off the right side of the runway. The engine power increased and the airplane began to climb; however, the airplane flew into an embankment and collided with trees. The pilot's brother further stated that the pilot told him he had lost control of the airplane during landing, and that he had attempted a go-around. Additionally, the pilot told him that there were no problems with the airplane; he just "lost control of it."

Factual narrative

On October 10, 2007, at 1044 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-28-160, N5235W, lost control during the landing roll at Twin County Airport, Hillsville, Virginia. The airplane was substantially damaged. The private pilot and two passengers were seriously injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the personal flight. The airplane was registered to and operated by a private individual under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. The flight departed from Dr. C P Savage Sr. Airport, Montezuma, Georgia, about 0730.

The pilot's brother stated that he was watching the pilot land, when he felt a strong crosswind, and saw the airplane veer off the right side of the runway. Shortly thereafter, he heard the engine power up, and saw the airplane begin to climb. The airplane flew into an embankment and collided with trees. The pilot's brother said that after the accident, the pilot told him that he had lost control of the airplane during landing, and that he had attempted a go-around. The pilot also told him that there were no problems with the airplane, "he just lost control of it." The pilot did not provide the National Transportation Safety Board with a 6120.1 accident/incident form with the required 10 days after the accident in accordance with Title 49, Chapter VIII, subpart 830.15.

According to a Federal Aviation Administration inspector, the pilot attempted to land on runway 19, a 4,204-foot-long, 75-foot-wide, asphalt runway. The reported wind at the airport, about the time of the accident, was from 290 degrees at 10 knots, gusting to 22 knots.

Aircraft

Registration
N5235W
Reported as
Piper PA-28-160
Category
Airplane
Serial number
28-275
Engine
Lycoming O-320, 160 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal · Part 91
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Departed
53A · Montezuma, GA
Destination
HLX · Hillsville, VA
Airport
HLX · Twin County, runway 19, 4,204 × 75 ft, asphalt

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
33
Injuries
Serious
Certificate
Private
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land
Medical
Class 3, Without waivers/limitations
Seat
Front
Flight hours
90 total

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
290° at 10 knots, gusting 22
Visibility
10 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
None
Temperature
66 °F, dew point 52 °F
Altimeter
29.92 inHg
Observed at
HLX