Piper PA32-260 accident near Roanoke, Virginia, March 18, 1991
On March 18, 1991 at about 1:00 am local time, a Piper PA32-260, registered N4870T, was substantially damaged in an accident near Roanoke, Virginia (Roanoke Reg Apt airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 5 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN TERRAIN CLEARANCE ON A NIGHT VISUAL APPROACH.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 18, 1991 · about 1:00 am local time
- Place
- Roanoke, Virginia · Roanoke Reg Apt · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 5 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA32-260 · all PA32-260s on the register
- Registration
- N4870T · registry record · serial 32-7200026
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE AIRCRAFT WAS ON AN NIGHT IFR FLIGHT FROM WASHINGTON'S DULLES AIRPORT TO ROANOKE, VIRGINIA. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT FROM AN ALTITUDE OF 5000 FEET ON A RIGHT BASE LEG, HE WAS CLEARED FOR A VISUAL APPROACH TO RUNWAY 24. HE ADVISED THE TOWER THAT HE HAD ALL TERRAIN IN SIGHT AND STATED THAT THE THE ATIS HAD INDICATED A 25,000 FOOT OVERCAST WITH 15 MILES VISIBILITY. AT 6.2 NAUTICAL MILES (LORAN C) FROM THE RUNWAY, HE STATED THAT THE AIRCRAFT ENCOUNTERED A DOWNDRAFT AND STRUCK THE TOP OF A TREE ON A MOUNTAIN RIDGE. HE MAINTAINED CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT AND LANDED ON RUNWAY 24.
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: 493 hours in all; 38 in this make and model; 32 in the last 90 days; 14 in the last 30 days; 355 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 15, 1990; 1,934 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,900 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-540-E4B5 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: IAD Washington VA
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 24, 6,800 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 150° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 25,000 ft; ovct at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 46°F (8°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:00 am from ROA, 6 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 4 |
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.