Plane Crash List

Piper PA-23-150 N1494P

19 April 1993 · Nellysford, Virginia, United States · Serious injuries

Summary

On 19 April 1993 at about 16:00 local time, a Piper PA-23-150 registered N1494P, operated by Guckelberg, Frederich A., was involved in an accident near Nellysford, Virginia, United States. 2 people were on board and one was seriously injured, one 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 16:00
Classification
Accident
Location
Nellysford, Virginia, United States
Coordinates
37.8993, -78.8998
Aircraft
Piper PA-23-150
Registration
N1494P
Category
Airplane
Engines
2
Operator
Guckelberg, Frederich A.
Operating rule
Part 91: General Aviation
Purpose of flight
Personal
Phase of flight
Not recorded
Route
Chesapeake → Mt. Comfort
Aircraft damage
Substantial
Weather
VMC
Light
Day
NTSB number
NYC93LA088

People

1 person was seriously injured.

On board Died Serious Minor Uninjured
2 0 1 1 0

Probable cause

THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE INFLIGHT DECISION AND PLANNING, AND HIS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN AN ALTITUDE ADEQUATE FOR TERRAIN AVOIDANCE.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE PILOT STATED THAT HE PLANNED A VFR FLIGHT AT 1000 FT AGL. HIS ROUTE OF FLIGHT WAS OVER HILLY TERRAIN. HE SAID THAT 'CLIMB PERFORMANCE WAS NOTICEABLY LOW AND...SMOKE [WAS COMING] FROM THE LEFT ENGINE.' HE ENTERED A MOUNTAIN PASS AND DISCOVERED HE COULD NOT FIND AN EXIT FROM THE HIGH TERRAIN. THE PILOT MADE A SHARP TURN TO MANEUVER AWAY FROM THE HILLS. WITNESSES SAW THE AIRPLANE FLYING AT LOW ALTITUDE AND THEN SAID IT 'STARTED A TURN TO THE LEFT AND THEN WENT STRAIGHT DOWN, NOSE FIRST.' THEY SAID NOTHING ABOUT SEEING 'PLUMES OF BLACK SMOKE,' OR HEARING ABNORMAL ENGINE SOUNDS. THE LEFT ENGINE WAS EXAMINED, AND EXCEPT FOR ONE MAGNETO THAT WAS NOT FUNCTIONING, NOTHING WAS FOUND THAT WOULD HAVE PREVENTED THE ENGINE FROM RUNNING.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.

Other Piper PA-23 accidents

Date Aircraft Location Operator Outcome Died
25 Jan 1993 Piper PA-23-150
N2144P
Eloy, Arizona, United States
no coordinates
R.finkenbine & R. Kestler Serious injuries -
20 Sep 1993 Piper PA-23-250
N5309Y
Spencer, Iowa, United States Robert L. Cozine No injuries -
6 Jun 1993 Piper PA-23-150
N522T
Diablo, California, United States Norman E. Lamantia Fatal 2
17 Dec 1993 Piper PA-23-250
N8769B
Showlow, Arizona, United States John C. Morrison Minor injuries -
16 Mar 1993 Piper PA-23-160
N4341P
Mena, Arkansas, United States Gaffney, Richard & Cynthia Serious injuries -
28 Mar 1993 Piper PA-23-250
N6382Y
Elmwood Park, New Jersey, United States
no coordinates
Alan B. Fleischman Fatal 6

All 1,716 records for this type

Other accidents in this area

Date Aircraft Location Operator Outcome Died
4 Sep 1993 Cessna 172P
N50927
Pembroke, Virginia, United States Air Chesterfield Inc. Fatal 1
9 May 1993 Piper PA-28-181
N82836
Chesterfield, Virginia, United States Aero Industries Minor injuries -
11 Sep 1993 Cessna 172N
N5347J
Tangier Island, Virginia, United States Reichard Aviation Inc. Minor injuries -
15 May 1993 Cessna 152
N68910
Norfolk, Virginia, United States
no coordinates
Rick Aviation No injuries -
16 May 1993 Cessna 172E
N5416T
Manassas, Virginia, United States
no coordinates
Continental Aviation Club Inc. Minor injuries -
25 Sep 1993 Cessna 172
N9841L
Emporia, Virginia, United States Civil Air Patrol, Inc. No injuries -

All 170,864 records in United States