Piper PA-32-260 accident near Roanoke, Virginia, September 20, 1987
On September 20, 1987 at about 7:59 pm local time, a Piper PA-32-260, registered N3636W, was substantially damaged in an accident near Roanoke, Virginia (Roanoke Regional Woodrum 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
- September 20, 1987 · about 7:59 pm local time
- Place
- Roanoke, Virginia · Roanoke Regional Woodrum · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-32-260 · all PA-32-260s on the register
- Registration
- N3636W · registry record · serial 32538
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
ROANOKE TOWER CLEARED THE AIRCRAFT FOR LANDING AND THE PILOT PULLED THE POWER TO IDLE. THE PILOT DID NOT REALIZE THE ENGINE HAD QUIT UNTIL HE APPLIED POWER ON SHORT FINAL AND THE ENGINE DID NOT RESPOND. THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK SHORT OF RUNWAY 33. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE FORGOT TO SWITCH TANKS DURING FLIGHT. THE LEFT TANK WAS FOUND EMPTY WITH THE FUEL SELECTOR ON THE LEFT TANK.
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: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 374 hours in all; 47 in this make and model; 99 in the last 90 days; 281 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,425 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, September 12, 1987; 19 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,400 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-540-E4B5 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: W91 Moneta VA at 7:40 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 33, 5,800 ft by 150 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 4,000 ft
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 61°F (16°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:50 pm from ROA, 1 miles away
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.