Piper PA-23-250 accident near Sandston, Virginia, March 6, 1992
On March 6, 1992 at about 10:57 pm local time, a Piper PA-23-250, registered N100LC, was destroyed in an accident near Sandston, Virginia (Richmond Intl airport). It was an executive or corporate flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S IMPROPER IN-FLIGHT PLANNING/DECISION FAILURE TO FOLLOW THE MISSED APPROACH PROCEDURE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 6, 1992 · about 10:57 pm local time
- Place
- Sandston, Virginia · Richmond Intl · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-23-250 · all PA-23-250s on the register
- Registration
- N100LC · registry record · serial 27-4658
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Executive or corporate flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT RECEIVED WEATHER BRIEFINGS ALONG HIS ROUTE OF FLIGHT THAT INDICATED LOW CEILINGS AND REDUCED VISIBILITY. DURING THE ILS APPROACH TO RUNWAY 34, THE PILOT ADVISED THE CONTROLLER THAT HE HAD LOST THE GLIDE SLOPE, AND REQUESTED AN AIRPORT SURVEILLANCE RADAR APPROACH (ASR). THE CONTROLLER STATED THAT HIS SCOPE IN THE TOWER SHOWED THE FLIGHT PATH IN THE GREEN, AND HE APPROVED THE ASR APPROACH. THE NEW MINIMUMS WERE PROVIDED TO THE PILOT AND HE WAS CLEARED TO LAND. AT ABOUT ONE HALF MILE FROM THE RUNWAY, THE PILOT EXECUTED A MISSED APPROACH. THE CONTROLLER GAVE THE PILOT THE MISSED APPROACH INSTRUCTIONS; HOWEVER, THE PILOT TRANSMITTED THAT 'JUST A LITTLE BIT LOWER, WE JUST SAW THE RUNWAY LIGHTS' RADAR & RADIO CONTACT WAS LOST. THE AIRCRAFT WAS LOCATED ONE QUARTER MILE NORTH OF RUNWAY 34 WHERE IT COLLIDED WITH TREES AND A ROAD.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,700 hours in all; 120 in this make and model; 2,650 as pilot in command; 866 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 1, 1991; 41 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 5,200 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming TIO-540 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Jasper Engine Exchange INC.
The flight
- Departed from: NC14 Reidsville NC at 10:01 pm
- Destination: RIC Sandston VA
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 34, 8,999 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: not reported
- Wind: from 110° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 2 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 300 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 54°F (12°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
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.
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, the folder of records gathered during the investigation, shown as the NTSB released them (the NTSB redacts some personal details first) and listed under the NTSB's own titles. This site's own text never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number BFO92FA032.