Piper PA-24-180 accident near Madison Heights, Virginia, July 7, 1993
On July 7, 1993 at about 2:02 pm local time, a Piper PA-24-180, registered N7443P, was destroyed in an accident near Madison Heights, Virginia. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
ENGINE FAILURE DUE TO OIL STARVATION AS A RESULT OF INADEQUATE MAINTENANCE AND INSPECTION OF THE OIL COOLER LINES.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 7, 1993 · about 2:02 pm local time
- Place
- Madison Heights, Virginia · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-24-180 · all PA-24-180s on the register
- Registration
- N7443P · no longer on the register · serial 24-2632
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE IN CRUISE FLIGHT AT 3,000 FT THE PILOT REPORTED TO ATC THAT THE ENGINE WAS LOSING OIL PRESSURE. WHILE BEING VECTORED TO AN AIRPORT, THE PILOT REPORTED 'ENGINE'S GOING'. WITNESSES OBSERVED SMOKE COMING FROM THE AIRPLANE, AND A SPUTTERING ENGINE NOISE. THE ENGINE NOISE CEASED AND THE AIRPLANE WAS OBSERVED TO PITCH UP, BANK LEFT, AND IMPACT A TREE. EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE REVEALED OIL STARVATION DUE TO A RUPTURED OIL COOLER LINE. THE LINE WAS DETERIORATED NEAR THE AREA CLOSEST TO THE EXHAUST STACK. MAINTENANCE LOGS WERE NOT RECOVERED.
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: 373 hours in all; 300 in this make and model; 24 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days; 331 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 20, 1993
- Maximum gross weight: 2,550 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A1D (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: CHO Charlottesville VA at 1:28 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 360° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 88°F (31°C), dew point 73°F (23°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:50 pm from LYH, 9 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.