Piper PA-24 N8820P

Summary

On 24 October 2008 at about 23:01 local time, a Piper PA-24 registered N8820P was involved in an accident near Red Hill, Virginia, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

24 October 2008 at 23:01

Classification

Accident

Location

Red Hill, Virginia, United States

Nearest airport

Charlottesville Albemarle (CHO)

Coordinates

37.9403, -78.5486

Aircraft

Piper PA-24

Registration

N8820P

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Asheville → Albermarle

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Night

NTSB number

ERA09FA029

2 people died.

The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control due to an improper repair to the stabilator, which resulted in an in-flight failure of the stabilator. Contributing to the accident was the descent in turbulence, at airspeeds above the maximum structural cruise speed.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The flight was being operated on an instrument flight rules flight plan. About 6 minutes prior to the accident, the flight was cleared to descend from its cruise altitude of 7,000 feet. About 2 minutes after the descent clearance was issued, the owner/pilot requested a diversion to a different airport, due to low visibility at the original destination. The request was approved, a heading change to 360 degrees was issued, and about 4 minutes later, the airplane departed controlled flight, and impacted terrain. A performance study revealed that after the airplane left its cruise altitude, it initially descended at a calibrated airspeed of approximately 178 mph. Once the pilot completed the diversion turn, the airspeed increased to values that ranged between 190 and 196 mph. Examination of the wreckage revealed that the two stabilators had deformed and separated prior to impact, and that one stabilator had been improperly repaired with incorrect fasteners. A review of the certification, service, and maintenance information indicated that the airplane's original maximum structural cruise speed of 180 mph was still applicable; the airplane was not to be operated above this speed except in smooth air. A weather analysis indicated moderate to severe turbulence in the vicinity of the flight track.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.