Plane Crash List

Bennett PIEL EMERAUDE N86WB

13 July 1998 · Hillsville, Virginia, United States · Minor injuries

Summary

On 13 July 1998 at about 20:45 local time, a Bennett PIEL EMERAUDE registered N86WB was involved in an accident near Hillsville, Virginia, United States. One person was on board and 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 20:45
Classification
Accident
Location
Hillsville, Virginia, United States
Coordinates
36.7592, -80.7294
Aircraft
Bennett PIEL EMERAUDE
Registration
N86WB
Category
Airplane
Engines
1
Operator
Not recorded
Operating rule
Part 91: General Aviation
Purpose of flight
Personal
Phase of flight
Not recorded
Route
Elkin Municipal → Clarksburg
Aircraft damage
Substantial
Weather
VMC
Light
Day
NTSB number
IAD98LA077

People

1 person had minor injuries.

On board Died Serious Minor Uninjured
1 0 0 1 0

Probable cause

A blocked fuel strainer due to an inadequate maintenance inspection by the previous owner, which resulted in fuel starvation.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot reported he had just purchased the airplane and was flying to his home base. While in cruise flight, the pilot experienced surges of engine power between full and idle power. After the second decrease in engine RPM, the pilot selected a forced landing area. During the approach to a field the airplane's propeller struck a power line. After touchdown, the airplane continued approximately 300 to 400 feet before it struck a fence and several trees. An examination of the wreckage by an FAA Airworthiness Inspector revealed 'extreme' amounts of debris in the fuel strainer bowl. Examination of the maintenance records revealed an annual inspection had been recorded by an FAA certificated airframe and powerplant mechanic 4.5 aircraft hours prior to the accident. The previous owner revealed to the FAA Inspector that he had performed the inspection and forged the mechanic's signature in the maintenance logbook.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.

Other accidents in this area

Date Aircraft Location Operator Outcome Died
19 Nov 1998 Piper PA-28-161
N1685H
Melfa, Virginia, United States - Minor injuries -
29 Aug 1998 Beechcraft T-34B
N669MC
Quantico, Virginia, United States - Fatal 2
1 Aug 1998 Cessna 152
N89074
Culpeper, Virginia, United States - No injuries -
14 Feb 1998 Goins SONERAI II LTS
N426AG
Suffolk, Virginia, United States - Serious injuries -
8 Dec 1998 Beechcraft 36
N3237Q
Mathews, Virginia, United States - No injuries -
6 Dec 1998 Univair 7GC-AA
N31253
Garner, Virginia, United States
no coordinates
- No injuries -

All 170,864 records in United States