Piper PA-28-181 accident near Fredericksburg, Virginia, September 10, 1986
On September 10, 1986 at about 7:53 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-181, registered N4350K, was substantially damaged in an accident near Fredericksburg, Virginia. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people 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
- September 10, 1986 · about 7:53 pm local time
- Place
- Fredericksburg, Virginia
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-181 · all PA-28-181s on the register
- Registration
- N4350K · no longer on the register · serial 28-8490060
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT NOSED OVER DRG A FORCED LNDG FOLLOWING A TOTAL LOSS OF PWR DUE TO FUEL EXHAUSTION. THE PLT RPRTD THAT BOTH HE &THE PASSENGERS VISUALLY CHECKED THE FUEL TANKS PRIOR TO DEPARTURE TO VERIFY THAT THEY WERE FULL OF FUEL. THE PWR LOSS OCCURRED APRX 25 MI FROM THE DESTN. THE PLT SWITCHED FUEL TANKS & WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE ENG WHICH OPERATED FOR 2 TO 3 MIN BEFORE QUITTING AGAIN. THE ACFT CLEARED PWR LINES DRG THE FORCED LNDG APCH; HOWEVER, IT TOUCHED DOWN HARD ON ROUGH GROUND & NOSED OVER WHILE ROLLING ON UPHILL TERRAIN. THE PLT RPRTD THE EN ROUTE FLT TIME WAS 1 HR & 35 MIN; HOWEVER, A POLICE RPRT INDICATED A TIME OF AT LEAST 3 HRS & 5 MIN. FUEL CONSUMPITON DRG A 2.5 HR FLT ON THE PREVIOUS DAY WAS APRX 11 GPH. NO EVIDENCE OF FUEL SPILLAGE WAS FOUND AT THE ACDNT SITE. THE ACFT WAS CHECKED FOR FUEL LEAKS & NONE WERE FOUND. THE PLT STATED THE FUEL QUANTITY INDICATORS WERE INACCURATE; HOWEVER, THEY WERE ACCURATE DRG A POST ACDNT EXAM.
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: 194 hours in all; 71 in this make and model; 14 in the last 90 days; 157 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, September 10, 1986
- Maximum gross weight: 2,450 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A4M (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SUT Southport NC at 4:15 pm
- Destination: W22 Woodbridge VA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 210° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 25,000 ft; scat at 1,800 ft
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 66°F (19°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:50 pm from RIC, 45 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
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.
Other NTSB records under N4350K the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.