Amateur-built RW-145 accident near Ridgeway, Virginia, March 29, 1988
On March 29, 1988 at about 8:00 pm local time, a amateur-built RW-145, registered N107LH, was destroyed in an accident near Ridgeway, Virginia (Pace Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was 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
- March 29, 1988 · about 8:00 pm local time
- Place
- Ridgeway, Virginia · Pace Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built RW-145
- Registration
- N107LH · registry record · serial 225945484
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE STUDENT PILOT WAS ATTEMPTING TO LAND FROM A 2 FOOT HOVER WHEN THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED. HE REPORTED THAT HE OVERCONTROLLED THE HELICOPTER AND A DYNAMIC ROLLOVER RESULTED. A WITNESS REPORTED THE HELICOPTER WAS TRAVELING DOWNWIND WHEN IT BEGAN TO TURN TO THE RIGHT. HE REPORTED THAT THE HELICOPTER TOUCHED DOWN ON BOTH SKIDS, BOUNCED SIDEWAYS AND ROLLED OVER. THE PILOT REPORTED GUSTING WIND BUT DID NOT ESTIMATE THE VELOCITY OF THE GUSTS.
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: student
- Flight time: 10 hours in all; 10 in this make and model; 5 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days; 5 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 15 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,200 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Rotorway RW-145-2 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: Ridgeway VA at 3:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.