- Date
- June 9, 1989, 15:35 local (19:35 UTC)
- Place
- Ashland, VA
- Injuries
- 1 fatal
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Approach
- Aircraft
- N33320Piper PA-28-180
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report July 9, 1990
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19890609014989A
- Case key
- 32294
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
Improper go-around by the pilot by not maintaining a climb and obtaining proper altitude before turning. The pilot's poor approach and the trees were considered to be contributing factors.
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
Witnesses rprtd the acft was high & fast on final apch, then it leveled off about 15 ft above the rwy. After traveling a short distance, the acft began climbing as if the plt was making a go-around & it entered a left turn ovr trees besidethe rwy. Witnesses said they did not hear any change in eng RPM when the acft began the climbing turn. Subsequently, it dscndd, hit two trees (on an easterly hdg) & came to rest aprx 225 yds northeast of rwy 16. The 1st tree was struck by the acft's rgt wing, 28 ft AGL & about 35 yds from where the main wreckage came to rest. Rprtdly, the acft was turning left when it impacted the 1st tree. Propeller slash marks were found at the base of the 2nd tree, about 4 yds from the main wreckage; the propeller blades were curled by impact damage. No preimpact part failure/malfunction of the acft or eng was found.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N33320
- Reported as
- Piper PA-28-180
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 28-7505132
- Airframe hours
- 2,365
- Engine
- Lycoming O-360-A4A, 180 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- A & S Flying Services
- Registered owner
- A & S Flying Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal; Standard, Utility
- Last inspection
- Annual · July 8, 1988 · 131 hours before
- Departed
- 6A8 · Lebanon, VA
- Destination
- W83
- Flight plan
- IFR
- Airport
- W83 · Hanover County Muni, runway 16, 4,650 × 80 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
- 48
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Toxicology
- Performed
- Flight hours
- 317 total · 305 in this make and model · 230 as pilot in command · 22 in the last 90 days · 10 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 210° at 10 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility
- 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 2,900 ft broken
- Temperature
- 75 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
- Observed at
- W83
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.