Piper PA-28-180 N20LA

Summary

On 30 April 1995 at about 15:59 local time, a Piper PA-28-180 registered N20LA was involved in an accident near Louisa, Virginia, United States. One person was on board and one died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

30 April 1995 at 15:59

Classification

Accident

Location

Louisa, Virginia, United States

Coordinates

38.0104, -77.9902

Aircraft

Piper PA-28-180

Registration

N20LA

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Leesburg → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

IMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

BFO95FA048

1 person died.

the non-instrument rated private pilot's continued VFR flight into IMC and failure to maintain adequate altitude/clearance from terrain/obstacles. Related factors were the pilot's lack of total experience in IMC operations, his failure to obtain a preflight weather briefing, and the fog and low ceiling.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE NON-INSTRUMENT RATED PRIVATE PILOT FLEW TO THE DESTINATION AIRPORT TO PICK UP A PASSENGER FOR A FLIGHT TO NEW YORK. WHEN THE PILOT ARRIVED IN THE VICINITY OF THE AIRPORT, HE CONTACTED UNICOM FOR ASSISTANCE IN LOCATING THE AIRPORT DUE TO REDUCED VISIBILITY. HE WAS ADVISED THAT INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS (IMC) PREVAILED AT THE DESTINATION AIRPORT. WITNESSES REPORTED THAT THE CEILING WAS ABOUT 200 FEET, AND THE VISIBILITY WAS LESS THAN A MILE WITH RAIN AND FOG. THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH TREES ABOUT 500 YARDS FROM THE AIRPORT. EXAMINATION OF THE AIRPLANE DID NOT DISCLOSE EVIDENCE OF MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.