Piper PA-28-180 accident near Pulaski, Virginia, February 22, 1983
On February 22, 1983, a Piper PA-28-180, registered N9264J, was substantially damaged in an accident near Pulaski, Virginia (Twin airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 22, 1983
- Place
- Pulaski, Virginia · Twin · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-180 · all PA-28-180s on the register
- Registration
- N9264J · no longer on the register · serial 2762
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE AIRCRAFT COLLIDED WITH TREES DURING A FORCED LANDING AFTER FUEL EXHAUSTION ON THE FINAL LEG OF A CROSS-COUNTRY. THE PILOT MADE 5 ENROUTE STOPS AND NO REFUELING WAS PERFORMED AT ANY POINT DURING THOSE STOPS. DEPARTING THE LAST STOP THE PILOT ESTIMATED 45 MINUTES OF FUEL REMAINED. THE ENGINE STOPPED AT AN ALTITUDE OF 4500 FEET ABOUT 9 MILES FROM DESTINATION. AFTER THE ACCIDENT THE OWNER FOUND 6 OUNCES OF FUEL IN ONE TANK AND NONE IN THE OTHER TANK. THE CARBURETOR BOWL HAD ONE AND ONE-HALF OUNCES OF FUEL IN IT.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 944 hours in all; 100 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,761 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, January 15, 1983; 8 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,400 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A4A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: BCB Blacksburg VA
- Destination: HCX Hillsville VA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 35, 3,400 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 330° at 15 knots, gusting 7
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 39°F (4°C), dew point 7°F (-14°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.