Piper PA-24-250 accident near True, West Virginia, July 28, 1989
On July 28, 1989 at about 7:30 pm local time, a Piper PA-24-250, registered N7162P, was destroyed in an accident near True, West Virginia. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOTS FAILURE TO PROPERLY MONITOR THE FUEL SUPPLY WHICH RESULTED IN FUEL STARVATION. THE AIRCRAFT STALLED AS THE PILOT PERFORMED AN EVASIVE MANEUVER TO AVOID THE MOUNTAIN TOP.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 28, 1989 · about 7:30 pm local time
- Place
- True, West Virginia
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-24-250 · all PA-24-250s on the register
- Registration
- N7162P · registry record · serial 24-2328
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE VFR RATED PLT REQUESTED AN IFR CLEARANCE TO GET ON TOP OF WX THEN CONTINUED THE FLT VFR. EN ROUTE, TWO DIFFERENT FACILITIES HEARD THE PLT MAKE TRANSMISSIONS. ONE FACILITY REPORTED THE PLT TRANSMITTED HE WAS INBOUND FOR A LANDING TO REFUEL. WITNESSES REPORTED THAT THE ACFT WAS FLYING AT A VERY LOW ALT AND THE ENGINE WAS CUTTING ON AND OFF. THEY REPORTED THAT THE ENGINE CAME ON AGAIN AND THE ACFT ENTERED A STEEP CLIMB TO CLEAR A MOUNTAIN TOP. THE ACFT IMPACTED THE GROUND IN A STEEP NOSE DOWN ATTITUDE AFTER CLEARING THE TOP OF THE MOUNTAIN. THE IMPACT HEADING WAS REVERSE THE DIRECTION OF FLT. RECORDS INDICATE THE ACFT WAS TOPPED OFF WITH FUEL PRIOR TO DEPARTURE. THE ACFT HAS 2 30-GALLON MAIN TANKS AND 2 15-GALLON AUX TANKS. THE FLT WAS APRX 2 HOURS LONG PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT AND THE ACFT BURN APRX 14 GPH AT 75 PERCENT CRUISE POWER.
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: 670 hours in all; 244 in this make and model; 1 in the last 90 days; 582 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,039 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 26, 1989
- Maximum gross weight: 2,800 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-540-A1D5 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: FNT Flint MI at 5:30 pm
- Destination: SN4 Lincolnton NC
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 350° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 4 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 2,200 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 77°F (25°C), dew point 66°F (19°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:52 pm from BKW, 18 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.
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.