Piper PA-28-161 accident near Winchester, Virginia, August 7, 2009
On August 7, 2009 at about 9:43 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-161, registered N20977, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach (VFR pattern downwind) near Winchester, Virginia (Winchester Regional Airport). 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 pilot's inadequate preflight inspection and failure to ensure an adequate quantity of fuel was available for the flight.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 7, 2009 · about 9:43 pm local time
- Place
- Winchester, Virginia · Winchester Regional Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-161 · all PA-28-161s on the register
- Registration
- N20977 · no longer on the register · serial 28-7916022
- 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 departed on the local flight with an undetermined quantity of fuel. As the airplane neared the traffic pattern at the destination airport, the engine lost power. The pilot unsuccessfully attempted to restore engine power, and subsequently performed a forced landing. The airplane impacted a fence about 1,200 feet short of the runway threshold, which resulted in substantial damage. No fuel or evidence of fuel spillage was noted at the accident scene. The engine started immediately, ran continuously, and showed no evidence of any mechanical abnormalities during a postaccident test-run. Examination of fuel records revealed that the airplane was last fueled about one week prior the the accident and flew 4.2 flight hours prior to the loss of engine power. According to the airplane's Operating Handbook, the airplane contained two 25-gallon fuel tanks, 1 gallon of which was unusable in each tank. Fuel consumption calculations using data from the handbook revealed that at power settings between 55 and 75-percent power, and between best power and best economy fuel flow settings, the airplane would have an expected cruise endurance of between 4.8 and 5.6 hours. The calculation was for cruise endurance only, and did not take into account fuel burned during taxi, run-up, takeoff, climb, descent, or landing.
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
- Loss of engine power (total) during approach (VFR pattern downwind) defining event
- Fuel exhaustion during approach (VFR pattern downwind)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Planning/preparation › (general) › Pilot
- Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware › Fluids › Fuel › Fluid level
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 227 hours in all; 38 in this make and model; 2 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days; 82 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,500 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 9, 2009
- Maximum gross weight: 2,325 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 SERIES (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Av-Ed Flight School Inc.
The flight
- Departed from: OKV Winchester VA at 8:30 pm
- Destination: OKV Winchester VA
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 220° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 30.14 inHg
- Observation at 10:00 pm from OKV, 1 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.