Casualties unknown

1989-06-01: Piper PA-38-112 (N2602L) — Criders, VA

Criders, VA, US

On June 1, 1989, a Piper PA-38-112 (registration N2602L) was involved in an aviation accident near Criders, VA. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: THE PILOT FAILED TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE DURING THE CROSSWIND CONDITIONS ENCOUNTERED DURING THE INITIAL TAKEOFF CLIMB. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.

Sourcesthe U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archivePrimary reportUpdated 1781061362Data APIEditorial standards

A private airplane departed an airstrip and immediately veered right, descending into a wooded area bordering the field. The pilot reported no mechanical failures during the incident.

What happened

The flight was initiated as a private operation from an airstrip owned by the pilot. The departure direction was to the east. According to the pilot's report, surface winds were from the north at 5 knots, with gusts reaching 10 knots.

Shortly after initiating takeoff, the aircraft reached an altitude of approximately 30 feet above ground level (AGL). At this point, the airplane veered sharply to the right. The aircraft then descended out of controlled flight and impacted a wooded area that bordered the airstrip.

The investigation

Following the accident, the pilot provided a statement regarding the condition of the aircraft. The pilot explicitly reported that there were no failures or mechanical malfunctions involving the airplane or its systems prior to or during the incident.

No further mechanical examination details are provided in the source material.

Investigation report by the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive. Original record: https://carol.ntsb.gov/event/20001213X28502. This page is a structured re-presentation; facts and quotes are in the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), United States.