Piper PA-28-180 accident near Louisa, Virginia, April 30, 1995
On April 30, 1995 at about 3:59 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-180, registered N20LA, was destroyed in an accident near Louisa, Virginia. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the non-instrument rated private pilot's continued VFR flight into IMC and failure to maintain adequate altitude/clearance from terrain/obstacles. Related factors were the pilot's lack of total experience in IMC operations, his failure to obtain a preflight weather briefing, and the fog and low ceiling.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 30, 1995 · about 3:59 pm local time
- Place
- Louisa, Virginia · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-180 · all PA-28-180s on the register
- Registration
- N20LA · registry record · serial 28-7205057
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE NON-INSTRUMENT RATED PRIVATE PILOT FLEW TO THE DESTINATION AIRPORT TO PICK UP A PASSENGER FOR A FLIGHT TO NEW YORK. WHEN THE PILOT ARRIVED IN THE VICINITY OF THE AIRPORT, HE CONTACTED UNICOM FOR ASSISTANCE IN LOCATING THE AIRPORT DUE TO REDUCED VISIBILITY. HE WAS ADVISED THAT INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS (IMC) PREVAILED AT THE DESTINATION AIRPORT. WITNESSES REPORTED THAT THE CEILING WAS ABOUT 200 FEET, AND THE VISIBILITY WAS LESS THAN A MILE WITH RAIN AND FOG. THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH TREES ABOUT 500 YARDS FROM THE AIRPORT. EXAMINATION OF THE AIRPLANE DID NOT DISCLOSE EVIDENCE OF MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION.
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: 546 hours in all; 4 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days; 354 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,615 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 29, 1995; 30 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,175 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A4A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: JYO Leesburg VA at 3:00 pm
- Destination: LKU
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 2 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 1,300 ft; scat at 800 ft
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:05 pm from RIC, 45 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.