Williamsburg Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Williamsburg, Virginia 23081
Sunday, July 30, 1989 11:00 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PLT REPORTED THAT WHILE ON SHORT FINAL AT AN AIRSPEED OF 80 MPH WITH FLAPS EXTENDED, THE ACFT EXPERIENCED A SUDDEN LOSS OF ALT. THE ACFT DESCENDED RAPIDLY AND CONTACTED THE RWY FROM AN ALT OF APRX 10 FT AGL. THE LANDING WAS BEING MADE ON RWY 13 AND THE PLT REPORTED LOCAL WINDS FROM 180 DEGS AT 5 KTS GUSTING TO 10 KTS.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN AIRCRAFT CONTROL BY IMPROPERLY FLARING THE AIRPLANE DURING THE LANDING APPROACH.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 7/30/1989
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1100
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City WILLIAMSBURG
Event State VIRGINIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 23081
Event Date Year 1989
Event Date Month 7
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport WILLIAMSBURG
Event Location Nearest Airport ID JGG
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation 49
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Unknown
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) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 27
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 180
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 5
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 10
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 4
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 933
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Aug 2 1989 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1145
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 39046
Date of most recent change to record Apr 24 2013 10:30AM
User who most recently changed record broda
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N4022R
NTSB Number BFO89LA066
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name PIPER
Aircraft Model PA-32-300
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-32-300
Aircraft Serial Number 32-40299
Certified Max Gross Weight 3400
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 6
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Jan 13 1989 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 32
Airframe Hours 1901
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name SOUTHERN DELAWARE AVIATION,INC
Aircraft Owner Street Address 651 N. BEDFORD ST.
Aircraft Owner City GEORGETOWN
Aircraft Owner State DE
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 19947
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
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 SBY
Departure City SALISBURY
Departure State MD
Departure Country
Departure Time 1015
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Landing
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Apr 24 2013 10:30AM
User who most recently changed record broda
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 13
Runway Length 3215
Runway Width 60
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --