Berryvale Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Culpeper, Virginia 22701
Tuesady, August 13, 1985 12:30 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

WITNESSES STATED THAT THE TAKEOFF ROLL BEGAN ABOUT 2000 FT FROM THE DEPARTURE END OF THE 2300 FT SOD RWY. THE A/C LIFTED OFF FROM A 3-POINT ATTITUDE AND CLIMBED AT A HIGH ANGLE OF ATTACK, 'MUSHING ALONG' UNTIL IT FELL OFF ON THE RT WING AND STRUCK THE GROUND ABOUT 300 FT BYND THE DEPARTURE END OF THE RWY. WRECKAGE EXAMINATION DISCLOSED THAT THE STABILIZER TRIM WAS SET TO 2/3 OF ITS FULL NOSE UP TRAVEL. PERFORMANCE CALCULATIONS REVEALED THAT 2100 FT IS REQ'D TO CLEAR A 50 FT OBSTACLE FROM A LEVEL, DRY, PAVED RWY. PILOT IN COMMAND WAS FORMER NAVAL AVIATOR WHO HAD BEEN AN AIRLINE PLT SINCE 1967. HOWEVER, HE HAD FLOWN AS A B-727 FLIGHT ENGINEER DURING THAT ENTIRE TIME. THE OWNER OF N7372K ESTIMATED THAT THE PLT HAD FLOWN THE A/C ABOUT 50 HRS DURING THE PRECEEDING FEW MONTHS.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 8/13/1985
Event Day of the Week Tuesday
Time of Event 1230
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City CULPEPER
Event State VIRGINIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 22701
Event Date Year 1985
Event Date Month 8
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport BERRYVALE
Event Location Nearest Airport ID VA30
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 1
Degrees magnetic from airport 200
Airport Elevation 440
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1050 LST
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 50
Weather Observation Facility ID IAD
Elevation of weather observation facility 313
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 35
Time Zone of the weather observation LST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Partial Obscuration
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 4
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 31
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 22
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 180
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 5
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) 2250
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
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) 2936
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Aug 13 1985 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1315
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 31873
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 9:15AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N7372K
NTSB Number BFO85FA068
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 Ground
Aircraft Explosion Ground
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name PIPER
Aircraft Model PA-20-125
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-20-125
Aircraft Serial Number 20-281
Certified Max Gross Weight 1800
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 Nov 24 1984 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 25
Airframe Hours 1865
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name STEWART EAMES
Aircraft Owner Street Address RFD 2, BERRYVALE LANE
Aircraft Owner City CULPEPER
Aircraft Owner State VA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 22701
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 Yes
Departure Airport Code
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1230
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code W93
Destination City ORANGE
Destination State VA
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Descent
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:36AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 20
Runway Length 2300
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --