Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Deane, Kentucky 41812
Wednesday, November 9, 1988 12:00 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

WHILE EN ROUTE TO WISE, VIRGINIA FROM RICHMOND, KENTUCKY ON A PLEASURE FLIGHT, THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH TREES ON ROCKHOUSE MOUNTAIN. THE AIRPLANE WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED AND THE PILOT AND PASSENGER WERE SERIOUSLY INJURED. THE FUEL SELECTOR WAS FOUND POSITIONED TO THE LEFT TANK, HOWEVER, THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF FUEL IN THE VICINITY OF THE SEPARATED LEFT WING/RUPTURED TANK. THE RIGHT WING WAS COMPLETELY SEVERED FROM THE FUSELAGE, HOWEVER, THE RIGHT FUEL TANK WAS INTACT AND CONTAINED APPROXIMATELY FOUR GALLONS OF FUEL. DAMAGE TO THE ENGINE PRECLUDED A TEST STAND RUN, HOWEVER, NO MECHANICAL DEFICIENCIES OR MALFUNCTIONS WERE NOTED DURING TEARDOWN EXAMINATION. AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT THE PILOT WAS CIRCLING AROUND THE PASSENGER'S HOUSE SO THAT HE COULD OBSERVE IT FROM THE AIR.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 11/9/1988
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 1200
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City DEANE
Event State KENTUCKY
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 41812
Event Date Year 1988
Event Date Month 11
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 0
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Pilot
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 Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 20
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 16
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -18
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 Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Serious
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious 2
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 2194
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Nov 9 1988 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1400
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 38785
Date of most recent change to record Dec 13 2000 12:17PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N98185
NTSB Number ATL89LA030
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-28-140
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-28-140
Aircraft Serial Number 28-26091
Certified Max Gross Weight 2150
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 Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection May 12 1988 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 165
Airframe Hours 2583
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name MILLER, WILLIAMSON, MELHUISH
Aircraft Owner Street Address 2419 CEDAR HILL ROAD
Aircraft Owner City RICHMOND
Aircraft Owner State KY
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 40475
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name ROBERT J. MILLER
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 2491 CEDAR HILL DR.
Operator City RICHMOND
Operator State KY
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 40475
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 I39
Departure City RICHMOND
Departure State KY
Departure Country
Departure Time 0
Departure Time Zone
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code LNP
Destination City WISE
Destination State VA
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Maneuvering
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 0
Runway Width 0
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --