Plane Crash List

Piper PA-23-150 N2224P

29 October 1989 · Wytheville, Virginia, United States · Minor injuries

Summary

On 29 October 1989 at about 07:40 local time, a Piper PA-23-150 registered N2224P was involved in an accident near Wytheville, Virginia, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 had minor injuries. 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 07:40
Classification
Accident
Location
Wytheville, Virginia, United States
Coordinates
36.9505, -81.0792
Aircraft
Piper PA-23-150
Registration
N2224P
Category
Airplane
Engines
2
Operator
Not recorded
Operating rule
Part 91: General Aviation
Purpose of flight
Personal
Phase of flight
Not recorded
Route
Homerville → Charlottesville
Aircraft damage
Substantial
Weather
VMC
Light
Night/Bright
NTSB number
BFO90LA004

People

2 people had minor injuries.

On board Died Serious Minor Uninjured
2 0 0 2 0

Probable cause

THE LOSS OF PROPELLER CONTROL WHICH RESULTED IN ENGINE SHUTDOWN AND SUBSEQUENT FORCED LANDING ON UNSUITABLE TERRAIN.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

WHILE IN CRUISE FLT AT 6,500 FT, AT A POWER SETTING OF 2500 RPM WITH 21 INCHES MP, THE PLT STATED HE WAS UNABLE TO SYNCHRONIZE THE LEFT PROP. HE STATED THE PROP THEN DECREASED TO 1500 RPM, SURGED TO 3000, THEN DROPPED BACK TO 1500. HE ATTEMPTED TO FEATHER THE PROP BUT WAS UNABLE TO DO SO. UNABLE TO MAINTAIN ALT WITH POWER FROM THE RIGHT ENG, THE PLT MADE A FORCED LANDING ON AN INTERSTATE. DURING THE LANDING ROLL, THE LEFT WING CONTACTED AN EMBANKMENT AND THE ACFT VEERED OFF THE SIDE OF THE INTERSTATE. A FIRE STARTED IN THE RIGHT ENGINE AND THE RIGHT WING WAS DESTROYED. POST ACCIDENT INSPECTION OF THE LEFT PROPELLER FAILED TO REVEAL ANY REASON WHY THE FLUCTUATION IN RPM HAD OCCURRED. NOR DID IT REVEAL WHY THE PROP WOULD NOT FEATHER. WATER WAS FOUND THROUGHOUT THE LEFT ENGINE FUEL SYSTEM. THE PROPS HAD BEEN OVERHAULED PRIOR TO THIS FLT. THE LEFT PROP GOVERNOR WAS BENCH TESTED AND ALTHOUGH CAPABLE OF OPERATION WAS FOUND TO BE OPERATING SLIGHTLY OUT IT'S SPECIFIED OPERATING RANGE.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.

Other Piper PA-23 accidents

Date Aircraft Location Operator Outcome Died
4 Jun 1989 Piper PA-23-250
N4906P
Fort Worth, Texas, United States
no coordinates
Rhima, Bassiony No injuries -
27 Jan 1989 Piper PA-23-160
N4391P
Carson City, Nevada, United States - Fatal 1
20 Jun 1989 Piper PA-23-250
N6471Y
Stanley, Idaho, United States - Fatal 3
27 Aug 1989 Piper PA-23-160
N8886
Eau Claire, Wisconsin, United States Virgil L. Barnes No injuries -
26 Nov 1989 Piper PA-23-160
N4359P
New Bern, North Carolina, United States - No injuries -
3 Dec 1989 Piper PA-23-150
N1361P
Jackson, Tennessee, United States
no coordinates
Bolivar Aircraft Sales No injuries -

All 1,716 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