Front Royal-Warren County Airp Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Front Royal, Virginia 22630
Sunday, August 14, 2011 14:30 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

According to the pilot, he was overflying the airport but had to land quickly for personal reasons. He circled north of the airport and performed a straight-in, stabilized approach to the runway. He reduced the power as he crossed the runway threshold and landed. According to a witness, the airplane landed about halfway down the runway and was traveling very fast. The witness stated that the brakes were applied, and the airplane swerved, overran the runway, and departed the right side of the runway. The airplane traveled down an embankment and came to rest in a ditch, resulting in substantial damage to the wing spar and fuselage. The pilot reported there were no preexisting mechanical anomalies with the airplane.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot’s failure to attain the proper touchdown point.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 8/14/2011
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1430
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City Front Royal
Event State VIRGINIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 22630
Event Date Year 2011
Event Date Month 8
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 385503N
Event Location Longitude 0781507W
Event Location Airport Front Royal-Warren County Airp
Event Location Nearest Airport ID FRR
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 709
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1435 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 360
Weather Observation Facility ID OKV
Elevation of weather observation facility 726
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 14
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 7000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 30
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 18
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) --
Variable Wind Indicator --
Wind Speed (knots) --
Wind Velocity Indicator Calm
Wind Gust Indicator --
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.77
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report 141835Z AUTO 00000KT 10SM SCT070 SCT080 30/18
Event Highest Injury Minor
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 1
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 29133
NTSB Notification Source FAA Eastern ROC
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Dec 13 2011 3:49PM
User who most recently changed record johb
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N4341M
NTSB Number ERA11CA452
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name PIPER
Aircraft Model PA-28-236
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 28-8411010
Certified Max Gross Weight 3011
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
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 --
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 1785
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type Unknown
Aircraft Owner Name ISLES AVIATION LLC
Aircraft Owner Street Address PO BOX 220163
Aircraft Owner City CHANTILLY
Aircraft Owner State VA
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 20153-0163
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name Av-Ed Flight School
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address --
Operator City Leesburg
Operator State VA
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 20175
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
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 GWW
Departure City Goldsboro
Departure State NC
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1137
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code JYO
Destination City Leesburg
Destination State VA
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Nov 20 2011 9:19PM
User who most recently changed record johb
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location 10
Runway Length 3007
Runway Width 75
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --