Piper PA-24-180 accident near Sandston, Virginia, December 1, 1991
On December 1, 1991 at about 11:34 pm local time, a Piper PA-24-180, registered N5174P, was destroyed in an accident near Sandston, Virginia (Richmond Int. airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DUE TO FUEL EXHAUSTION AND THE PILOTS SELECTION OF UNSUITABLE TERRAIN FOR THE FORCE LANDING. A FACTOR WAS THE PILOT'S IMPROPER INFLIGHT DECISION.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 1, 1991 · about 11:34 pm local time
- Place
- Sandston, Virginia · Richmond Int. · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-24-180 · all PA-24-180s on the register
- Registration
- N5174P · no longer on the register · serial 24-193
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOTS DEPARTED WITH FULL FUEL TANKS FOR THEIR FIVE HOUR FLIGHT. THEY WERE GIVEN SEVERAL ALTITUDE CHANGES WHICH AT TIMES, PUT THEM INTO GREATER THAN EXPECTED HEAD WINDS. THEY ALSO WERE GIVEN ONE SIGNIFICANT OFF COURSE VECTOR. LATER IN THE FLIGHT, THEY ELECTED TO STOP SHORT OF THEIR DESTINATION FOR FUEL. DURING THEIR ILS APPROACH IN IMC CONDITIONS. THE AIRCRAFT RAN OUT OF FUEL AND THEY CRASHED INTO A PARTIALLY WOODED AREA.
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: airline transport pilot, flight instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 4,807 hours in all; 56 in this make and model; 74 in the last 90 days; 30 in the last 30 days; 4,550 as pilot in command; 2,538 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 4, 1991; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,550 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A1A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 6B0 Middlebury UT at 6:45 pm
- Destination: 0AJ Jacksonville NC
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 080° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 1,700 ft; scat at 400 ft
- Temperature: 59°F (15°C), dew point 59°F (15°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:30 pm from RIC, 6 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
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.