Douglas AD-4NA accident near Syria, Virginia, November 4, 1984
On November 4, 1984 at about 6:00 pm local time, a Douglas AD-4NA, registered N91954, was destroyed in an accident near Syria, Virginia. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
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
- November 4, 1984 · about 6:00 pm local time
- Place
- Syria, Virginia · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Douglas AD-4NA · all AD-4NAs on the register
- Registration
- N91954 · registry record · serial 126970
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT HAD OBTAINED TWO WX BRIEFINGS BFR THE FLT BOTH INDICATING VFR NOT RECOMMENDED. HE SAID HE WOULD FLY VFR AS LONG AS HE COULD ALONG A NORTHERN ROUTE THAT WAS FORECAST TO BE VFR DETERIORATING TO MVFR. THE PLT WAS NOT INSTRUMENT RATED. THE ACFT WAS OBSERVED IN A STRAIGHT SLIGHT CLIMB IN AND OUT OF CLOUDS IMMEDIATELY BEFORE ENTERING A CLOUD THAT COVERED THE HILL WHERE THE ACCIDENT TOOK PLACE. THE ACCIDENT SITE WAS LOCATED WEST OF THE FORECAST VFR ROUTE ON A MORE DIRECT ROUTE TO THE PLTS DESTINATION.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land
- Flight time: 972 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 39,834 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, July 5, 1984
- Maximum gross weight: 18,500 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Wright R-3350-26WD (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: PHF Newport News VA
- Destination: YIP Detroit MI
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Sky: not recorded; not recorded
- Temperature: 57°F (14°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Observation at 1:00 pm
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.