Piper PA-28R-200R accident near West Point, Virginia, February 2, 1987
On February 2, 1987 at about 10:20 pm local time, a Piper PA-28R-200R, registered N33399, was substantially damaged in an accident near West Point, Virginia (West Point Municipal airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. 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 2, 1987 · about 10:20 pm local time
- Place
- West Point, Virginia · West Point Municipal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28R-200R PA-28R-200 · all PA-28R-200Rs on the register
- Registration
- N33399 · registry record · serial 28R-7535142
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AFTER MAKING A LOW PASS OVER THE UNCONTROLLED AIRPORT THE CFI DECIDED TO LET THE STUDENT PILOT MAKE A TOUCH AND GO LANDING ON RUNWAY 27 AT WEST POINT MUNICIPAL AIRPORT. WEST POINT, VIRGINIA. THE MANEUVER WAS SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED AND THE AIRCRAFT CAME AROUND IN THE PATTERN FOR ANOTHER LANDING. DURING THE SECOND LANDING THE LEFT MAIN GEAR CONTACTED A SNOW BANK THAT WAS ON THE APPROACH END OF THE RUNWAY AND SWERVED OFF THE LEFT SIDE OF IT. AS THE AIRCRAFT SKIDDED THE RIGHT GEAR COLLAPSED AND THE RIGHT WING CONTACTED THE RUNWAY.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,350 hours in all; 47 in this make and model; 100 in the last 90 days; 32 in the last 30 days; 900 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,449 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 25, 1986; 36 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,600 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-C1C (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Langley Aero Club
The flight
- Departed from: W97 Langley VA
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 27, 3,750 ft by 75 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 5,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 46°F (8°C), dew point 39°F (4°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:00 pm from PHF, 27 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.
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.