Travel Air B-4000 accident near Midland, Virginia, August 3, 1989
On August 3, 1989 at about 8:10 pm local time, a Travel Air B-4000, registered N13906, was substantially damaged in an accident near Midland, Virginia (Warrenton 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 PILOT'S IMPROPER COMPENSATION FOR WIND CONDITIONS AND IMPROPER FLARE DURING THE LANDING. CONTRIBUTING FACTORS WERE:THE WIND CONDITIONS AND THE PILOT'S LACK OF EXPERIENCE IN THIS MAKE AND MODEL OF AIRCRAFT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 3, 1989 · about 8:10 pm local time
- Place
- Midland, Virginia · Warrenton
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Travel Air B-4000
- Registration
- N13906 · registry record · serial 1262
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,722 hours in all; 2 in this make and model; 49 in the last 90 days; 36 in the last 30 days; 1,625 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 5, 1989; 3 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,900 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Wright R-760-8 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: VA30 Culpepper VA at 9:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 32, 4,106 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 045° at 5 knots, gusting 10
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 90°F (32°C), dew point 0°F (-18°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.