Aviation Crash Map

Piper J4 N27838

30 November 2018 · Forest, Virginia, United States · No injuries

Summary

On 30 November 2018 at about 21:30 local time, a Piper J4 registered N27838, operated by SML Aviation, was involved in an accident near Forest, Virginia, United States. One person was 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 21:30
Classification
Accident
Location
Forest, Virginia, United States
Nearest airport
New London (W90)
Coordinates
37.2711, -79.3356
Aircraft
Piper J4
Registration
N27838
Category
Airplane
Year built
1940
Engines
1
Operator
SML Aviation
Operating rule
Part 91: General Aviation
Purpose of flight
Instructional
Phase of flight
Not recorded
Route
Forest → Forest
Aircraft damage
Substantial
Weather
VMC
Light
Day
NTSB number
GAA19CA089

People

Nobody was injured.

On board Died Serious Minor Uninjured
1 0 0 0 1

Probable cause

The student pilot's improper landing flare and subsequent failure to maintain directional control during landing.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The solo student pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that, during final approach to land, he realized the airplane was too high, so he performed a forward slip. During touchdown, the airplane bounced twice and veered right. The airplane ground looped to the right, exited the runway, and the right main landing gear struck a guard rail. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing lift strut. The student reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.

Other Piper J4 accidents

Date Aircraft Location Operator Outcome Died
22 Aug 2023 Piper J4
N6581H
Cleburne, Texas, United States - No injuries -
24 Oct 2009 Piper J4
N24536
El Cajon, California, United States John J. McGee No injuries -
18 May 2004 Piper J4/E
N37982
Bigfork, Montana, United States - No injuries -
23 Feb 1980 Piper J4
N38090
Eagle Pass, Texas, United States
no coordinates
- No injuries -
22 Sep 1975 Piper J4
N32695
Two Harbors, Minnesota, United States
no coordinates
- No injuries -
22 Jan 1975 Piper J4
N26903
Advance, North Carolina, United States
no coordinates
- No injuries -

All 13 records for this type

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All 170,864 records in United States