Piper PA 22-150 accident near New London, Virginia, April 12, 1985
On April 12, 1985 at about 9:40 pm local time, a Piper PA 22-150, registered N5738D, was destroyed in an accident near New London, Virginia (New London airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. 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
- April 12, 1985 · about 9:40 pm local time
- Place
- New London, Virginia · New London · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA 22-150 · all PA 22-150s on the register
- Registration
- N5738D · no longer on the register · serial 22-4438
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE EXITING THE TRAFFIC PATTERN AFTER TKOF THE PLT SMELLED SMOKE AND OBSERVED FLAMES NEAR THE LEFT RUDDER PEDAL. AFTER FAILING TO PUT THE FIRE OUT WITH HIS SHOES THE PLT RETURNED TO THE ARPT AND SUBSEQUENTLY LNDD USING SIDE WINDOW TO LOOK OUT OF DUE TO SMOKE IN THE COCKPIT. DURING LNDG THE PLT WAS FORCED TO REMOVE HIS FEET FM THE RUDDER PEDALS DUE TO FIRE. HE ATTEMPTED TO APPLY THE HAND BRAKE BUT VEERED OFF THE LEFT SIDE OF RWY BEFORE COLLIDING WITH A DITCH AND FENCE. EXAM REVEALED THE BAT CABLE FD SEPARATED AND SHOWED SIGNS OF INTENSE HEAT AT A PT ABT 4 INCHES FM THE STARTER SWITCH. THE SEP PT WAS LOCATED BENEATH THE PLTS SEAT WHERE THE CABLE PASSED THRU A RUBBER GROMMET IN A METAL BOX HOUSING ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS.
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: airline transport pilot, flight instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 7,200 hours in all; 1,400 in this make and model; 220 in the last 90 days; 2,220 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 56,525 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, October 19, 1984; 54 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,000 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: W90 New London VA at 9:35 pm
- Destination: W90 New London VA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 34, 3,164 ft by 40 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Observation at 4:00 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.