# NTSB MIA89FA172: Piper PA-28-180, N33320, Ashland, VA, June 9, 1989

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: June 9, 1989, 15:35 local (19:35 UTC)
- Place: Ashland, VA
- Location: 37.7604° N, 77.4724° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Ashland, VA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.7604&lon=-77.4724&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report July 9, 1990
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 32294
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA89FA172
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/32294/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA89FA172

## 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

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- In flight collision with object, go-around (vfr)
  - planned approach - poor, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - go-around - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - climb - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - object - tree(s) (contributing factor)
  - proper altitude - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## 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](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N33320-1990-10-19), registration cancelled 1990-10-19, S/N 287505132 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28-180
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28-180](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-180) (registry code 7102808) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 28-7505132
- Airframe hours: 2365
- Engines: 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

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 48; 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 (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19890609014989A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19890609014989A), Jun 9, 1989: Piper PA28180, Ashland, VA, Substantial damage, 1 fatal. Wing came up landing in a crosswind aircraft made left descending turn into trees.

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.

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