Piper PA-28-181 accident near Woodbridge, Virginia, August 31, 1982
On August 31, 1982 at about 10:00 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-181, registered N8398T, was substantially damaged in an accident near Woodbridge, Virginia (Woodbridge Airport, INC.). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 31, 1982 · about 10:00 pm local time
- Place
- Woodbridge, Virginia · Woodbridge Airport, INC. · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-181 · all PA-28-181s on the register
- Registration
- N8398T · registry record · serial 28-819049
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
FOLLOWING A VISUAL APPROACH FOR FINAL LANDING THE ACFT TOUCHED DOWN, BOUNCED & THE PLT APPLIED POWER FOR A GO-AROUND. AT APPROXIMATELY 100 FT AGL OVER THE DEPARTURE END OF THE RWY THE ENG QUIT. THE ACFT STRUCK THE GROUND IN A SMALL CLEARING. AFTER THE ACCIDENT 12 GALS OF FUEL WAS DRAINED FROM THE LEFT TANK & 1-1/2 PINTS FROM THE RIGHT TANK. THE FUEL SELECTOR WAS FOUND ON THE RIGHT TANK POSITION.
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: 586 hours in all; 4 in this make and model; 5 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days; 500 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 47,672 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 16 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,550 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A4M (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: ACY Atlantic City NJ at 4:30 pm
- Destination: Woodbridge VA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 19, 2,150 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 210° at 14 knots
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 5,500 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 178°F (81°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:00 pm from IAD, 16 miles away
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.
Other NTSB records under N8398T the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.