Amateur-built SA-300 accident near Richlands, Virginia, March 26, 1988
On March 26, 1988 at about 4:30 pm local time, a amateur-built SA-300, registered N3LD, was substantially damaged in an accident near Richlands, Virginia (Richlands Muni 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 26, 1988 · about 4:30 pm local time
- Place
- Richlands, Virginia · Richlands Muni · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built SA-300
- Registration
- N3LD · registry record · serial 1145
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AFTER TOUCHDOWN, DURING THE LANDING ROLL, THE ACFT VEERED SHARPLY TO THE LEFT. THE PLT ATTEMPTED TO CORRECT THIS ACTION BY APPLYING RIGHT RUDDER AND THE ACFT VEERED 45 DEGREES TO THE RIGHT. THE ACFT TRAVELED OFF THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE RWY AND CAME TO REST ON THE EMBANKMENT OF A RIVER WHICH CROSSED UNDER THE RWY. A MALFUNCTION OF THE TAILWHEEL LOCKING MECHANISM WAS DISCOVERED AFTER THE ACCIDENT.
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: 248 hours in all; 39 in this make and model; 1 in the last 90 days; 212 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rear
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 302 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 1, 1987
- Maximum gross weight: 1,100 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming GO-435 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 26, 3,427 ft by 44 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 210° at 10 knots, gusting 18
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 2,500 ft
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 36°F (2°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:50 pm from BLF, 33 miles away
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.
Other NTSB records under N3LD 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.