Piper PA 28-161 N36489

Summary

On 16 August 1986 at about 17:30 local time, a Piper PA 28-161 registered N36489, operated by FT. Eustis Flying Club, was involved in an accident near Stanley, Virginia, United States. 3 people were on board and 2 were seriously injured, one had minor injuries. The aircraft was destroyed. No probable cause statement is available for this record.

Date

16 August 1986 at 17:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Stanley, Virginia, United States

Coordinates

38.6594, -78.4499

Aircraft

Piper PA 28-161

Registration

N36489

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

FT. Eustis Flying Club

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Luray → Ft. Eustis

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

BFO86FIA02

2 people were seriously injured.

The NTSB has not published a probable cause for this record. No probable cause statement is present in the source data.

Nothing about the cause is stated here that is not in the source record.

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH TREES AND THE GROUND DURING A X-COUNTRY FLT OVER MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN. THE PLT HAD CROSSED THE 1ST RIDGE AT APRX 800 FT AGL ACCORDING TO THE PLT. THE FRONT SEAT PASSENGER SAID LATER THAT HE COMPLAINED SEVERAL TIMES DURING THE FLT THAT THE ACFT WAS TOO LOW. HE SAID THAT THE PLT TOLD HIM THAT 'THE SCENARY IS BETTER DOWN HERE.' THE PASSENGER SAID THAT THE ACFT WAS NEVER HIGHER THAN THE THIRD RIDGE. WHEN THE PLT TRIED TO CLIMB OVER THIS THIRD RIDGE THE AIRSPEED BEGAN TO DROP. THE PASSENGER STATED THAT THE PLT CONTINUED A STEADY COURSE TOWARD THE RIDGE AND JUST PRIOR TO IMPACT TRIED TO CLIMB STEEPER. THE STALL WARNING WENT OFF AND SHORTLY AFTERWARDS THE ACFT IMPACTED THE TREES.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.