- 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.
On this page
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.
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