Piper PA-31T accident near Deerfield, VA
On July 1, 1999, a Piper PA-31T (airplane) was involved in an accident near Deerfield, VA. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- July 1, 1999
- Place
- Deerfield, VA
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-31T · Airplane
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 38.191°N, 79.399°W
- NTSB ID
- 20001212X19328
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On July 1, 1999, at 1402 Eastern Daylight Time, a Piper PA-31T Cheyenne II, N602RM, was destroyed when it struck trees and then impacted terrain near Deerfield, Virginia. The certificated commercial pilot was fatally injured. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. An instrument flight rules flight plan had been filed for the flight, from Jonesboro Municipal Airport (JBR), Jonesboro, Arkansas, to Shenandoah Valley Regional Airport (SHD), Weyers Cave, Virginia. The flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. A review of air traffic control voice tapes revealed that the pilot was communicating on a Washington Center air traffic control frequency, at 23,000 feet. The airplane was cleared to descend to 15,000 feet, and the pilot acknowledged the clearance. A further clearance to 9,000 feet was issued, which the pilot once again acknowledged. The pilot later requested, and then received from the controller, the weather at Shenandoah Valley. He was subsequently cleared to proceed direct to GABLE intersection, and acknowledged the clearance. Afterwards, he was instructed to contact Richmond Approach Control. Once again he acknowledged the controller's instructions; however, no additional communications were received from the pilot. Radar data indicated that after the airplane left 23,000 feet, it stopped briefly at 22,200 feet. It then continued descending to 11,300 feet, after which, the altitude readout was lost. Only one additional position was recorded for the airplane, and that was without altitude readout. Earlier, during
Probable cause
Loss of control of the airplane due to pilot incapacitation following a heart attack.
More accidents in VA
- Boeing 757-200, Sep 11, 2001
- Beech B99, Sep 23, 1985
- Beech 65, Sep 10, 1995
- Beech 200, Oct 24, 2004
- Piper PA-31-310, Nov 14, 1982
Browse: Virginia · Piper aircraft
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
