Piper PA 25-235 accident near Front Royal, VA
On October 7, 2017, a Piper PA 25-235 (airplane) was involved in an accident near Front Royal, VA. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- October 7, 2017
- Place
- Front Royal, VA
- Aircraft
- Piper PA 25-235 · Airplane
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 38.920°N, 78.263°W
- NTSB ID
- 20171007X53946
Official records · ERA18FA006
- Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHTOn October 7, 2017, about 1345 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-25-235 airplane, N90866, was destroyed when it impacted terrain during initial climb after takeoff from Front Royal-Warren County Airport (FRR), Front Royal, Virginia. The airline transport pilot was fatally injured. The airplane was owned and operated by the Skyline Soaring Club under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the airport, and no flight plan was filed for the local glider tow flight. According to the glider flight instructor, he was providing an introductory glider flight to a passenger in the glider. The passenger was seated in the front seat, and the instructor was seated in the rear seat. He stated that the takeoff from runway 28 was normal and that he then looked away from the tow plane briefly to adjust a video camera. When he looked back toward the tow plane, he did not immediately see it but then noted that it was below and right of the glider. Additionally, the flight instructor noticed slack in the tow rope that attached the glider to the tow plane. He then released the tow rope, turned the glider 180°, and landed uneventfully. While approaching the runway, the glider flight instructor saw a fireball from where the tow plane had been descending. Several witnesses at the airport stated that the takeoff appeared to be normal but that the tow plane then pitched down, descended below the glider, and turned right before impacting terrain. PERSONNEL INFORMATIONThe tow plane pilot, age 76, held airline trans
Probable cause
The tow plane pilot's loss of airplane control for reasons that could not be determined based on the available evidence. Contributing to the accident was the glider instructor's diversion of attention away from the tow airplane which resulted in his delay in releasing the tow rope once the tow plane was no longer visible from the glider cockpit.
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.
