Piper PA-22-150 accident near South Boston, Virginia, August 25, 1995
On August 25, 1995 at about 9:15 pm local time, a Piper PA-22-150, registered N3965P, was substantially damaged in an accident near South Boston, Virginia (William Tuck airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
LOSS OF ENGINE POWER FOR AN UNDETERMINED REASON. A FACTOR RELATING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS: THE LACK OF SUITABLE TERRAIN FOR AN EMERGENCY LANDING.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 25, 1995 · about 9:15 pm local time
- Place
- South Boston, Virginia · William Tuck · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-22-150 · all PA-22-150s on the register
- Registration
- N3965P · registry record · serial 22-3645
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT STATED THAT HE TOOK OFF FROM RUNWAY 36, THEN MADE A LEFT TURN. DURING THE CLIMBING TURN, THE ENGINE LOST POWER. THE PILOT STATED THAT BECAUSE THERE WERE NO CLEARINGS AHEAD, HE TRIED TO RETURN TO RUNWAY 5. HOWEVER, AS HE ATTEMPTED TO LAND FROM OVER TREES, THE AIRPLANE STALLED AND DESCENDED TO THE RUNWAY. POSTACCIDENT EXAMINATION OF THE AIRCRAFT 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: 836 hours in all; 422 in this make and model; 25 in the last 90 days; 8 in the last 30 days; 760 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,667 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 7, 1995; 27 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,000 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-A1A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: W78 at 10:15 pm
- Destination: Blanch NC
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 5, 2,700 ft by 300 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 100° at 9 knots, gusting 16
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 25,000 ft; scat at 4,500 ft
- Temperature: 90°F (32°C), dew point 68°F (20°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:49 pm from DAN, 25 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.