Plane Crash List

Piper PA-32R-300 N69WP

22 July 1989 · Blacksburg, Virginia, United States · No injuries

Summary

On 22 July 1989 at about 18:50 local time, a Piper PA-32R-300 registered N69WP was involved in an accident near Blacksburg, Virginia, United States. One person was on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

The record

Date
at 18:50
Classification
Accident
Location
Blacksburg, Virginia, United States
Nearest airport
Virginia Tech (BCB)
Coordinates
37.2308, -80.4194
Aircraft
Piper PA-32R-300
Registration
N69WP
Category
Airplane
Engines
1
Operator
Not recorded
Operating rule
Part 91: General Aviation
Purpose of flight
Business
Phase of flight
Not recorded
Route
Columbus → Unknown
Aircraft damage
Substantial
Weather
VMC
Light
Day
NTSB number
BFO89LA061

People

Nobody was injured.

On board Died Serious Minor Uninjured
1 0 0 0 1

Probable cause

FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT DURING THE LANDING FLARE/TOUCHDOWN. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: ADVERSE WIND CONDITIONS AND THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE COMPENSATION FOR THE WIND.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE PLT NOTED THAT DURING ARRIVAL, THE WIND SOCK WAS LIMP. HE TRIED TO CONTACT UNICOM, BUT THERE WAS NO ANSWER, SO HE ELECTED TO LAND ON RWY 30. HE STATED THAT DURING THE LANDING, THE PLANE TOUCHED DOWN & 'FLIPPED OVER ON ROLLOUT.' AN INV REVEALED EVIDENCE THAT THE ACFT HAD IMPACTED ON THE RWY, THEN SKIDDED OFF THE LEFT SIDE AT AN ANGLE. PIECES OF THE LEFT WING WERE REMAINING ON THE RWY. THE PLANE CAME TO REST INVERTED (71 FT LEFT OF THE RWY) AFTER SKIDDING SVRL HUNDREDFT. ITS LEFT WING HAD SEPD NEAR THE WING ROOT & THE RGT WING WAS EXTENSIVELY DMGD. ONE WITNESS STATED THAT THE PLANE 'SEEMED TO TOUCH THE GROUND NOSE FIRST AND FALL APART.' ANOTHER WITNESS STATED THAT 'BEFORE HITTING THE RUNWAY, IT LOOKED AS THOUGH THE PLANE TILTED SLIGHTLY TO THE RIGHT AND THE NOSE BEGAN TO RISE. WHEN THE PLANE HIT THE RUNWAY, IT TILTED TO THE RIGHT BREAKING THE WING OFF.' THE PLT BELIEVED HE HAD ENCTRD UNFAVORABLE WIND; AFTER THE ACDNT, HE ESTD THE WIND WAS FM 060 DEG A 5 KTS. APRX 23 MI SOUTH AT ROANOKE, THE WIND WAS CALM.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.

Other Piper PA-32R accidents

Date Aircraft Location Operator Outcome Died
30 May 1989 Piper PA-32R
N3279Q
Stratford, Texas, United States Sherman Implement Co. No injuries -
18 Jan 1989 Piper PA-32R-301T
N6913D
Santa Ana, California, United States - No injuries -
30 Jun 1989 Piper PA-32R-301T
N82908
Telluride, Colorado, United States Martin Aviation, Inc No injuries -
12 Mar 1989 Piper PA-32R-300
N301WA
Southbridge, Massachusetts, United States
no coordinates
- Fatal 2
27 Jul 1989 Piper PA-32R-300
N3923F
Nappanee, Indiana, United States - No injuries -
18 Feb 1989 Piper PA-32R-300
N4303X
Fort Lauderdale, Florida, United States Garlock, Frank W. No injuries -

All 525 records for this type

Other accidents in this area

Date Aircraft Location Operator Outcome Died
9 Jun 1989 Piper PA-28-180
N33320
Ashland, Virginia, United States
no coordinates
A & S Flying Services Fatal 1
17 Mar 1989 Halstead SANDPIPER
N339RH
Chesapeake, Virginia, United States - No injuries -
2 Sep 1989 Rotorway EXEC
N27TB
Palmyra, Virginia, United States - Serious injuries -
3 Mar 1989 Beechcraft V35TC
N27FH
Roanoke, Virginia, United States Ruffin K. Harris Fatal 1
11 Mar 1989 Beechcraft A60
N98DS
Manassas, Virginia, United States
no coordinates
RTS Service Inc. Fatal 5
24 Mar 1989 Learjet 25
N29FN
Roanoke, Virginia, United States Flight International, Inc. No injuries -

All 170,864 records in United States