Aviat A-1C-180 N272WY

Summary

On 4 July 2017 at about 15:30 local time, a Aviat A-1C-180 registered N272WY was involved in an accident near Dillwyn, 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.

Date

4 July 2017 at 15:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Dillwyn, Virginia, United States

Nearest airport

Private R-C (NA)

Coordinates

37.4922, -78.5175

Aircraft

Aviat A-1C-180

Registration

N272WY

Category

Airplane

Year built

2016

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Farmville → Farmville

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ERA17LA229

1 person was seriously injured.

The pilot's selection of a grass airstrip that was of insufficient length for landing, and his exceedance of the airplane's critical angle of attack during the go-around, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The private pilot was attempting to land at an unfamiliar grass airstrip. He made two low approaches, and on the third attempt, he elected to land the airplane with full flaps. After touchdown, he realized that he had insufficient runway remaining on which to stop, so he aborted the landing. Shortly after takeoff and after clearing the trees, the airplane abruptly stalled and impacted the ground. The grass airstrip was designed for radio-controlled model airplanes and was only 650 ft long. A large stand of trees formed the boundary of the northeast end of the runway. The pilot reported that he misidentified the grass airstrip and that there were no mechanical malfunctions or anomalies that would have precluded normal operation of the airplane.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.