Piper PA32-260 N4870T
18 March 1991 · Roanoke, Virginia, United States · No injuries
Summary
On 18 March 1991 at about 01:00 local time, a Piper PA32-260 registered N4870T, operated by Joseph B. Bledsoe, was involved in an accident near Roanoke, Virginia, United States. 5 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 01:00
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Roanoke, Virginia, United States
- Nearest airport
- Roanoke Reg Apt (ROA)
- Coordinates
- 37.3094, -79.9008
- Aircraft
- Piper PA32-260
- Registration
- N4870T
- Category
- Airplane
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Joseph B. Bledsoe
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Washington → Unknown
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Night/Dark
- NTSB number
- BFO91LA032
People
Nobody was injured.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
Probable cause
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN TERRAIN CLEARANCE ON A NIGHT VISUAL APPROACH.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
THE AIRCRAFT WAS ON AN NIGHT IFR FLIGHT FROM WASHINGTON'S DULLES AIRPORT TO ROANOKE, VIRGINIA. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT FROM AN ALTITUDE OF 5000 FEET ON A RIGHT BASE LEG, HE WAS CLEARED FOR A VISUAL APPROACH TO RUNWAY 24. HE ADVISED THE TOWER THAT HE HAD ALL TERRAIN IN SIGHT AND STATED THAT THE THE ATIS HAD INDICATED A 25,000 FOOT OVERCAST WITH 15 MILES VISIBILITY. AT 6.2 NAUTICAL MILES (LORAN C) FROM THE RUNWAY, HE STATED THAT THE AIRCRAFT ENCOUNTERED A DOWNDRAFT AND STRUCK THE TOP OF A TREE ON A MOUNTAIN RIDGE. HE MAINTAINED CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT AND LANDED ON RUNWAY 24.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Piper PA32 accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 17 Jul 1991 | Piper PA32-300 | Corona, California, United States | Darryl Rhodes & James Hanenber | Fatal | 2 |
| 20 Feb 1992 | Piper PA32-300 | Hickory, North Carolina, United States | Keller, Sammy O. | Serious injuries | - |
| 20 Jul 1992 | Piper PA32-301T | Van Nuys, California, United States | Feverhelm Transportation, Inc | No injuries | - |
| 27 Oct 1987 | Piper PA32 | Larsen Bay, Alaska, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 6 Dec 1996 | Piper PA32-300D | Reform, Alabama, United States | - | Fatal | 1 |
| 24 Apr 1985 | Piper PA32-301T | Show Low, Arizona, United States | Earl J. Owens | Minor injuries | - |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 May 1991 | Cessna 310D | Christiansburg, Virginia, United States | U.s. Air Salvage | Minor injuries | - |
| 25 May 1991 | Piper PA-22-150 | Danville, Virginia, United States | Eoanna K. Casey | Minor injuries | - |
| 26 May 1991 | Smith Ted Aerostar STP1 | Quinton, Virginia, United States | Walter K. Crawford, JR. | No injuries | - |
| 13 Jun 1991 | Grumman AA-1C | Union Hall, Virginia, United States | Christopher P. Nelson | No injuries | - |
| 26 Jun 1991 | Cessna 150G | Stuart, Virginia, United States | C-150 Group Inc. | No injuries | - |
| 4 Jul 1991 | Cessna 172 | South Boston, Virginia, United States | Wings & Props Flying Club | Minor injuries | - |