Piper PA-32R-300 accident near Blacksburg, Virginia, July 22, 1989
On July 22, 1989 at about 6:50 pm local time, a Piper PA-32R-300, registered N69WP, was substantially damaged in an accident near Blacksburg, Virginia (Virginia Tech airport). It was a business 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
FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT DURING THE LANDING FLARE/TOUCHDOWN. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: ADVERSE WIND CONDITIONS AND THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE COMPENSATION FOR THE WIND.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 22, 1989 · about 6:50 pm local time
- Place
- Blacksburg, Virginia · Virginia Tech · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-32R-300 · all PA-32R-300s on the register
- Registration
- N69WP · registry record · serial 32R7780420
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT NOTED THAT DURING ARRIVAL, THE WIND SOCK WAS LIMP. HE TRIED TO CONTACT UNICOM, BUT THERE WAS NO ANSWER, SO HE ELECTED TO LAND ON RWY 30. HE STATED THAT DURING THE LANDING, THE PLANE TOUCHED DOWN & 'FLIPPED OVER ON ROLLOUT.' AN INV REVEALED EVIDENCE THAT THE ACFT HAD IMPACTED ON THE RWY, THEN SKIDDED OFF THE LEFT SIDE AT AN ANGLE. PIECES OF THE LEFT WING WERE REMAINING ON THE RWY. THE PLANE CAME TO REST INVERTED (71 FT LEFT OF THE RWY) AFTER SKIDDING SVRL HUNDREDFT. ITS LEFT WING HAD SEPD NEAR THE WING ROOT & THE RGT WING WAS EXTENSIVELY DMGD. ONE WITNESS STATED THAT THE PLANE 'SEEMED TO TOUCH THE GROUND NOSE FIRST AND FALL APART.' ANOTHER WITNESS STATED THAT 'BEFORE HITTING THE RUNWAY, IT LOOKED AS THOUGH THE PLANE TILTED SLIGHTLY TO THE RIGHT AND THE NOSE BEGAN TO RISE. WHEN THE PLANE HIT THE RUNWAY, IT TILTED TO THE RIGHT BREAKING THE WING OFF.' THE PLT BELIEVED HE HAD ENCTRD UNFAVORABLE WIND; AFTER THE ACDNT, HE ESTD THE WIND WAS FM 060 DEG A 5 KTS. APRX 23 MI SOUTH AT ROANOKE, THE WIND WAS CALM.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 450 hours in all; 200 in this make and model; 30 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 350 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,300 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 21, 1989
- Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
- Seats: 7
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540-K1G5D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: OSU Columbus OH
- Destination: BCB
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 30, 4,200 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 060° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 4,000 ft
- Temperature: 90°F (32°C), dew point 72°F (22°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:54 pm from ROA, 23 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.