NYC92FA078

NTSB accident investigation · Piper PA-28R-200 · Narrows, VA · April 12, 1992

Accident · FatalField investigationFinal report

Date: April 12, 1992, 13:50 local (17:50 UTC)
Place: Narrows, VA
Injuries: 4 fatal
Damage: Destroyed
Phase of flight: Enroute
Aircraft: N16540Piper PA-28R-200
Weather: Instrument (IMC) · Day
Status: Completed · report June 11, 1993
Report: Approved by Office Director
FAA report: 19920412039429A
Case key: 37057

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 decision to attempt VFR flight into adverse weather conditions, and the subsequent loss of airplane control. Factors related to the accident were the pilot's lack of an instrument rating, and his disregard of forcasted adverse weather along the route of flight.

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.

In flight encounter with weatherCruise - normal

In-flight planning/decision - improperPilot in commandCause

Weather condition - thunderstormCause

Weather evaluation - improperPilot in command

Flight into known adverse weather - attemptedPilot in command

Lack of total instrument timePilot in commandFactor

Loss of control - in flightManeuvering - turn to reverse direction

Aircraft control - not maintainedPilot in commandCause

In flight collision with objectManeuvering - turn to reverse direction

Analysis

An intense thunderstorm was reported in the area of the accident. ATC radar data showed the airplane flying at low altitude above the mountainous terrain. The airplane made a sharp turn and lost altitude. The pilot was not instrument rated. An examination of the wreckage and engine revealed no discrepancies.

Aircraft

Registration: N16540
Reported as: Piper PA-28R-200
Category: Airplane
Serial number: 28R-7335161
Engine: Lycoming IO-360-C1C, 200 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage: Destroyed
Flight: Personal · Part 91
Operator: Dragon Rider Corp
Registered owner: Dragon Rider Corp
Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
Last inspection: Annual · September 3, 1991
Departed: INT · Winston-Salem, NC
Destination: 177 · Cincinnati, OH

N16540Registration cancelled Aug 27, 1992 · Piper PA-28R-200S/N 28R7335161 Airframe modelPiper PA-28R-200

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: 68
Certificate: Private
Airplane ratings: Single-engine land
Medical: Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
Seat: Left
Flight hours: 623 total · 340 in this make and model

Weather

Conditions: Instrument (IMC) · Day
Temperature: 57 °F

FAA reports on this event · 1

The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.

Accident 19920412039429APiper PA28R200 · Narrows, VAFlew into known area of thunderstorms. Lost control. Dived into a cloud obscured mountain top. VFR not recommended.Apr 12, 1992 · N16540 · Destroyed · 4 fatal