Piper PA-24 accident near Red Hill, Virginia, October 24, 2008
On October 24, 2008 at about 11:01 pm local time, a Piper PA-24, registered N8820P, was destroyed in an accident during approach (IFR initial approach) near Red Hill, Virginia (Charlottesville Albemarle airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control due to an improper repair to the stabilator, which resulted in an in-flight failure of the stabilator. Contributing to the accident was the descent in turbulence, at airspeeds above the maximum structural cruise speed.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 24, 2008 · about 11:01 pm local time
- Place
- Red Hill, Virginia · Charlottesville Albemarle · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-24 260 · all PA-24s on the register
- Registration
- N8820P · no longer on the register · serial 24-4276
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The flight was being operated on an instrument flight rules flight plan. About 6 minutes prior to the accident, the flight was cleared to descend from its cruise altitude of 7,000 feet. About 2 minutes after the descent clearance was issued, the owner/pilot requested a diversion to a different airport, due to low visibility at the original destination. The request was approved, a heading change to 360 degrees was issued, and about 4 minutes later, the airplane departed controlled flight, and impacted terrain. A performance study revealed that after the airplane left its cruise altitude, it initially descended at a calibrated airspeed of approximately 178 mph. Once the pilot completed the diversion turn, the airspeed increased to values that ranged between 190 and 196 mph. Examination of the wreckage revealed that the two stabilators had deformed and separated prior to impact, and that one stabilator had been improperly repaired with incorrect fasteners. A review of the certification, service, and maintenance information indicated that the airplane's original maximum structural cruise speed of 180 mph was still applicable; the airplane was not to be operated above this speed except in smooth air. A weather analysis indicated moderate to severe turbulence in the vicinity of the flight track.
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
What happened, in order
- Aircraft maintenance event during prior to flight
- Turbulence encounter during enroute (descent)
- Aircraft structural failure during approach (IFR initial approach) defining event
- Loss of control in flight during approach (IFR initial approach)
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during uncontrolled descent
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft structures › Empennage structure › Horizontal stabilizer › Incorrect service/maintenance
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft structures › Empennage structure › Horizontal stabilizer › Failure
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Incorrect action performance › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,070 hours in all
- Last flight review: January 1, 2008
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 9,460 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 19, 2007; 71 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,900 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: AVL Asheville NC at 9:26 pm
- Destination: CHO Albermarle VA
- Flight plan: IFR
Weather at the time
- Light: night
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 1,900 ft
- Temperature: 52°F (11°C), dew point 46°F (8°C)
- Altimeter: 30.23 inHg
- Observation at 10:53 pm from CHO, 12 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.
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.