Piper PA-31-350 N234J

Summary

On 28 August 1989 at about 04:45 local time, a Piper PA-31-350 registered N234J was involved in an accident near Lynchburg, Virginia, United States. 5 people were on board and 5 died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

28 August 1989 at 04:45

Classification

Accident

Location

Lynchburg, Virginia, United States

Nearest airport

Lynchburg (LYH)

Coordinates

37.3597, -79.2204

Aircraft

Piper PA-31-350

Registration

N234J

Category

Airplane

Engines

2

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter

Purpose of flight

Unknown

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Salisbury → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

IMC

Light

Night/Dark

NTSB number

BFO89FA075

5 people died.

PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN CLEARANCE FROM OBSTRUCTIONS BECAUSE OF IMPROPER IFR OPERATION. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS DESCENT BELOW DECISION HEIGHT, DELAY IN INITIATING THE MISSED APPROACH, AND FOG CONDITIONS.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE PILOT UNSUCCESSFULLY TRIED TWICE TO LAND ON RWY 3. HE DID A VISUAL APPROACH AND THEN AN ILS APPROACH. THE PILOT AND WITNESSES REPORTED FOGGY CONDITIONS AT THE AIRPORT. THE PILOT FLEW THE ILS APPROACH AS A THIRD ATTEMPT TO LAND WHEN THE CRASH OCCURRED. RADAR DATA SHOWED THE AIRCRAFT DESENDED TO 1100 FT MSL ON THE APPROACH, ABOUT 1/2 MILE FROM THE RWY. THE PUBLISHED DECISION HEIGHT WAS 1118 FEET. THE RADAR DATA INDICATED THE CFT PASSED EAST OF THE RWY THRESHOLD AT AN ALTITUDE OF 1000 FT MSL. THE NEXT AND LAST RADAR DATA SHOWS THE ACFT ABOUT 2300 FT BEYOND AND 400 FT EAST OF THE RWY. THE INVESTIGATION REVEALED THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK TREES EAST OF THE RWY AND THEN CRASHED IN A CORNFIELD. AN EXAMINATION DID NOT DISCLOSE EVIDENCE OF A MALFUNCTION. THE LANDING GEAR WAS RETRACTED AND THE FLAPS WERE EXTENDED 10 DEGS.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.