Aviation Crash Map

Piper PA-22-150 N7816D

2 February 1991 · Wise, Virginia, United States · No injuries

Summary

On 2 February 1991 at about 15:50 local time, a Piper PA-22-150 registered N7816D, operated by Robert J Spera, was involved in an accident near Wise, Virginia, United States. 2 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 15:50
Classification
Accident
Location
Wise, Virginia, United States
Coordinates
36.9692, -82.5800
Aircraft
Piper PA-22-150
Registration
N7816D
Category
Airplane
Engines
1
Operator
Robert J Spera
Operating rule
Part 91: General Aviation
Purpose of flight
Personal
Phase of flight
Not recorded
Route
Unknown → Knoxville
Aircraft damage
Substantial
Weather
VMC
Light
Day
NTSB number
BFO91LA027

People

Nobody was injured.

On board Died Serious Minor Uninjured
2 0 0 0 2

Probable cause

THE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER BROUGHT ON BY A FAILURE OF THE NUMBER THREE CLYINDER EXHAUST VALVE. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS UNSUITABLE TERRAIN ON THE EMERGENCY LANDING FIELD.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE PILOT HAD JUST DEPARTED THE AIRPORT ON AN IFR FLIGHT AND WAS CLIMBING THROUGH 5,500 FEET WHEN THE AIRCRAFT SUDDENLY LOST SIGNIFICANT POWER. HE IMMEDIATELY PERFORMED THE EMERGENCY PROCEDURES FOR LOSS OF POWER BUT COULD NOT CORRECT THE SITUATION. WITH INSUFFICIENT POWER TO RETURN TO HIS DEPARTURE FIELD, HE ELECTED TO LAND ON A RECLAIMED STRIP MINE. ON TOUCHDOWN, THE NOSE LANDING GEAR BROKE AWAY AND THE AIRCRAFT TIPPED ON ITS NOSE AND CAME TO REST INVERTED CAUSING SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE. SUBSEQUENT INSPECTION OF THE ENGINE REVEALED DAMAGE IN THE NUMBER THREE CYLINDER CAUSED BY A BROKEN EXHAUST VALVE.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.

Other Piper PA-22 accidents

Date Aircraft Location Operator Outcome Died
4 Jul 1991 Piper PA-22-150
N7315D
Tunkhannock, Pennsylvania, United States Skyhaven Airport, Inc. Minor injuries -
25 May 1991 Piper PA-22-150
N5931D
Danville, Virginia, United States Eoanna K. Casey Minor injuries -
1 Jun 1991 Piper PA-22-150
N6904B
Elkins, West Virginia, United States
no coordinates
Allen D Chenoweth No injuries -
20 Apr 1991 Piper PA-22-108
N1567Z
Auburn, Washington, United States
no coordinates
Brian F. Zderic No injuries -
2 Dec 1991 Piper PA-22-135
N3745A
Siebert, Colorado, United States Bolton, Chris A./Jeanne C. Serious injuries -
21 May 1991 Piper PA-22-160
N2906Z
Mankato, Minnesota, United States
no coordinates
Steve/Chris Napier No injuries -

All 3,095 records for this type

Other accidents in this area

Date Aircraft Location Operator Outcome Died
1 May 1991 Cessna 310D
N6632T
Christiansburg, Virginia, United States U.s. Air Salvage Minor injuries -
26 May 1991 Smith Ted Aerostar STP1
N949Z
Quinton, Virginia, United States Walter K. Crawford, JR. No injuries -
13 Jun 1991 Grumman AA-1C
N9755U
Union Hall, Virginia, United States Christopher P. Nelson No injuries -
26 Jun 1991 Cessna 150G
N2641J
Stuart, Virginia, United States C-150 Group Inc. No injuries -
4 Jul 1991 Cessna 172
N1378U
South Boston, Virginia, United States Wings & Props Flying Club Minor injuries -
4 Jul 1991 Piper PA-23-250
N63817
New Market, Virginia, United States John Root Serious injuries -

All 170,864 records in United States