Piper PA-32R-300 accident near Williamsburg, VA
On November 12, 2006, a Piper PA-32R-300 (airplane) was involved in an accident near Williamsburg, VA. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: substantial.
- Date
- November 12, 2006
- Place
- Williamsburg, VA
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-32R-300 · Airplane
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 1 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Substantial
- Position
- 37.239°N, 76.716°W
- NTSB ID
- 20061120X01693
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On November 12, 2006, at 1125 eastern standard time, a Piper PA-32R-300, N9430K, was destroyed when it impacted trees shortly after takeoff from Williamsburg-Jamestown Airport (JGG), Williamsburg, Virginia. The certificated private pilot was seriously injured, and the passenger was fatally injured. Instrument meteorological conditions (IMC) prevailed, and an instrument flight rules (IFR) flight plan was filed for the personal flight, destined for Albert Whitted Airport (SPG), St. Petersburg, Florida. The flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. A review of Flight Service Station communication information revealed that the pilot received an IFR clearance to St. Petersburg about 1115. The pilot also advised the briefer that he intended to depart from runway 31. During an interview with a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector, the pilot described the events that led up to the accident. The weather around the time of the accident was IMC, and the winds were gusting. After starting and taxing the airplane, the pilot contacted flight service to obtain an IFR clearance. When the pilot received the clearance, he was advised that he had 5 minutes to depart. Prior to beginning the takeoff, the pilot knew that he would have to "climb out early due to the short runway." He went on to explain that he lifted the nose wheel of the airplane off the runway early in order to "lessen ground drag on the nose." He stated that "at Vr and approximately 100 feet, airspeed started decreasing." The airplane encountered a wind gust, "of approximately negative 30 knots."
Probable cause
The pilot's improper decision to depart into adverse weather conditions. Contributing was the gusty wind conditions.
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.
