Piper PA-22-150 accident near Danville, Virginia, May 25, 1991
On May 25, 1991 at about 10:29 pm local time, a Piper PA-22-150, registered N5931D, was substantially damaged in an accident near Danville, Virginia (Danville Municipal airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
AN INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT INSPECTION WHICH RESULTED IN WATER CONTAMINATED FUEL. CONTRIBUTING WAS NONCOMPLIANCE WITH AN AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 25, 1991 · about 10:29 pm local time
- Place
- Danville, Virginia · Danville Municipal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-22-150 · all PA-22-150s on the register
- Registration
- N5931D · registry record · serial 22-4594
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT REPORTED THAT DURING TAKEOFF CLIMB AT ABOUT 200 FEET AGL, THE ENGINE LOST POWER. SHE TURNED BACK TO THE AIRPORT, BUT BECAUSE OF INSUFFICIENT ALTITUDE, THE AIRPLANE STRUCK TREES SHORT OF THE AIRPORT. THE POST ACCIDENT EXAMINATION REVEALED ABOUT ONE HALF CUP OF WATER IN THE AIRPLANE BELLY SUMP AND IN THE CARBURETOR. IT WAS ALSO DETERMINED THAT AN AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVENESS PERTAINING TO WATER CONTAMINATED FUEL CAUSED BY IMPROPER FUEL CAP SEALS WAS NOT COMPLIED WITH.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 630 hours in all; 250 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 2, 2000
- Maximum gross weight: 1,500 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-A1A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: DAN at 10:29 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 2, 5,000 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 210° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 68°F (20°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:55 pm from DAN, 1 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.