Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Narrows, Virginia 24124
Sunday, April 12, 1992 13:50 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

AN INTENSE THUNDERSTORM WAS REPORTED IN THE AREA OF THE ACCIDENT. ATC RADAR DATA SHOWED THE AIRPLANE FLYING AT LOW ALTITUDE ABOVE THE MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN. THE AIRPLANE MADE A SHARP TURN AND LOST ALTITUDE. THE PILOT WAS NOT INSTRUMENT RATED. AN EXAMINATION OF THE WRECKAGE AND ENGINE REVEALED NO DISCREPANCIES.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE PILOT'S DECISION TO ATTEMPT VFR FLIGHT INTO ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS, AND THE SUBSEQUENT LOSS OF AIRPLANE CONTROL. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE THE PILOT'S LACK OF AN INSTRUMENT RATING, AND HIS DISREGARD OF FORCASTED ADVERSE WEATHER ALONG THE ROUTE OF FLIGHT.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 4/12/1992
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1350
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City NARROWS
Event State VIRGINIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 24124
Event Date Year 1992
Event Date Month 4
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Full
Investigator's weather source Witness
Time of the weather observation 0
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID
Elevation of weather observation facility 0
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Unknown
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Unknown
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 0
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 14
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 0
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Heavy
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Fatal
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal 4
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 4
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 230
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time 0
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 46248
Date of most recent change to record Dec 11 2000 2:51PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Instrument Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N16540
NTSB Number NYC92FA078
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name PIPER
Aircraft Model PA-28R-200
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-28R-200
Aircraft Serial Number 28R-7335161
Certified Max Gross Weight 2650
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Sep 3 1991 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name DRAGON RIDER CORP
Aircraft Owner Street Address 131 S. 10TH ST.
Aircraft Owner City PRAIRIE DUCHIEN
Aircraft Owner State WI
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 54929
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name DRAGON RIDER CORP
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address
Operator City
Operator State
Operator Country
Operator Zip code
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code INT
Departure City WINSTON-SALEM
Departure State NC
Departure Country
Departure Time 1351
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code 177
Destination City CINCINNATI
Destination State OH
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Cruise
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:35AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --