Piper PA-32-260B accident near Willis, Virginia, November 27, 1987
On November 27, 1987 at about 11:36 pm local time, a Piper PA-32-260B, registered N4832S, was destroyed in an accident near Willis, Virginia. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 3 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 27, 1987 · about 11:36 pm local time
- Place
- Willis, Virginia
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people were killed.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-32-260B · all PA-32-260Bs on the register
- Registration
- N4832S · no longer on the register · serial 32-1263
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT WAS ON A NIGHT IFR FLIGHT AT 7000 FT MSL IN IMC WHEN THE PLT REPORTED THE DIRECTIONAL GYRO WAS INOPERATIVE. THE ACFT WAS OUTBOUND FROM THE PULASKI VOR ON V45 HEADED SOUTHEAST. THE PLT FURTHER REPORTED THE TURN&BANK AND THE MAG COMPASS WERE OPERATIVE. SHORTLY AFTERWARDS THE PLT WAS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN THE CORRECT COURSE. THE ACFT EVENTUALLY REVERSED COURSE. WHILE ATC WAS TRYING TO HELP THE PLT RETURN TO THE CORRECT COURSE THE ACFT DESCENDED AND COLLIDED WITH THE GROUND. WITNESSES NEAR THE ACCIDENT SITE REPORTED POOR VISIBILITY, LOW CLOUDS, AND FOG. THE AIRCRAFT'S IMC CAPABILITY COULD NOT BE ACCURATELY DETERMINED DUE TO THE EXTENSIVE FIRE AND IMPACT DAMAGE. EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE DRIVEN VACUUM PUMP DID NOT REVEAL CONCLUSIVE EVIDENCE OF FAILURE. THE ACFT WAS EQUIPPED WITH A STANDBY VACUUM SYSTEM, HOWEVER, OPERATION OF THE SYSTEM COULD NOT BE CONFIRMED. THE PLT HAD FLOWN THE FIRST LEG (4.0 HRS.) TO DROP OFF PAX AND WAS RETURNING TO HIS HOME BASE. THE ACFT HAD FLOWN ABOUT 3 HRS. ON THIS LEG.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 931 hours in all; 109 in this make and model; 320 in the last 90 days; 39 in the last 30 days; 867 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 12, 1987
- Maximum gross weight: 3,400 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-540-E4B5 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: Lima OH
- Destination: INT Winston-Salem NC
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 060° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 2 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 200 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 39°F (4°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:35 pm from INT, 3 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.
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.