Waco RNF accident near Danville, Virginia, May 25, 1984
On May 25, 1984 at about 4:07 pm local time, a Waco RNF, registered N11254, was substantially damaged in an accident near Danville, Virginia (Danville Muni. airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people 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
- May 25, 1984 · about 4:07 pm local time
- Place
- Danville, Virginia · Danville Muni. · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Waco RNF · all RNFs on the register
- Registration
- N11254 · registry record · serial 3457
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT WAS EN ROUTE TO NJ WHEN THE ENG BEGAN TO RUN ROUGH. HE DIVERTED TO DANVILLE, VA, AND LANDED. DURING THE SUBSEQUENT TAKEOFF THE ENG BEGAN TO RUN ROUGH, THEN QUIT AT AN ALT OF APRX 700 FEET. THE PILOT TURNED THE ACFT AND OVER FLEW THE DEPARTURE RWY TO AVOID OVERFLYING BUILDINGS ON THE DOWNWIND LEG. THE PILOT STATED THAT 'FINAL APPROACH TURN TO FINAL LEG IS WHERE THE WING DROPPED AND THE ACFT STALLED FROM APRX 100 TO 200 FEET.' EXAMINATION OF THE AIRCRAFT ENG AFTER THE ACCIDENT REVEALED SEVERAL STUCK AND SEIZED EXHAUST VALVES. THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF A LUBRICANT AROUND THE VALVE GUIDES. THE GUIDES MUST BE LUBRICATED ON A PERIOD BASIS BY MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL.
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: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 2,792 hours in all; 240 in this make and model; 22 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rear
The aircraft
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, May 25, 1983; 40 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,938 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Warner 125 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: DAN Danville VA
- Destination: N87 Robbinsville NJ
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 20, 5,000 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 200° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.