Piper PA-28-140 accident near S. Charleston, West Virginia, June 30, 1990
On June 30, 1990 at about 7:00 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-140, registered N7454R, was substantially damaged in an accident near S. Charleston, West Virginia (Mallory airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE. A RELATED FACTOR CROSSWIND CONDITIONS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 30, 1990 · about 7:00 pm local time
- Place
- S. Charleston, West Virginia · Mallory · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-140 · all PA-28-140s on the register
- Registration
- N7454R · no longer on the register · serial 28-21998
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
SHORTLY AFTER TOUCHDOWN, THE AIRPLANE VEERED OFF THE LEFT SIDE OF THE 25 FOOT WIDE RUNWAY AND STRUCK AN EMBANKMENT. THE PILOT STATED THAT A 'WIND GUST MUST HAVE WEATHERVANED THE AIRCRAFT....'THE PILOT/OWNER HAD SUCCESSFULLY C0MPLETED HIS PRIVATE PILOT FLIGHT CHECK THE DAY BEFORE 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: 140 hours in all; 110 in this make and model; 34 in the last 90 days; 13 in the last 30 days; 77 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,101 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 3, 1989; 107 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,150 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: NC14 Shiloh NC at 5:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 33, 2,000 ft by 25 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 230° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 4 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 4,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 88°F (31°C), dew point 72°F (22°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:50 pm from CRW
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.