Piper PA28 151 accident near Abingdon, Virginia, September 13, 2013
On September 13, 2013 at about 4:45 pm local time, a 1976 Piper PA28 151, registered N4379F, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Abingdon, Virginia (Virginia Highlands Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The failure of the pilot to maintain directional control during a crosswind landing resulting in collision with terrain and aft displacement of the nose landing gear.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 13, 2013 · about 4:45 pm local time
- Place
- Abingdon, Virginia · Virginia Highlands Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA28 151 151, built 1976 · all PA28 151s on the register
- Registration
- N4379F · no longer on the register · serial 28-7715029
- 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 after takeoff he proceeded to the accident airport where the wind was forecast to be from 340 degrees gusting to 12 knots. On final approach for runway 6, he made minor crosswind corrections and executed a normal landing. After touchdown on runway centerline while at just under 60 knots, a wind gust occurred and he applied right rudder and aileron control inputs but the airplane was pointed at the left edge of the runway. The airplane went off the runway onto wet grass resulting in reduced braking action. The airplane travelled into a gulley resulting in aft displacement of the nose landing gear. Following recovery of the airplane several tubes of the engine mount were fractured.
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 control on ground during landing (landing roll) defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing (landing roll)
- Landing gear collapse during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 249 hours in all; 249 in this make and model; 2 in the last 30 days; 249 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,930 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 21, 2012
- Maximum gross weight: 2,326 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E3D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: TRI Bristol TN at 3:15 pm
- Destination: VJI Abingdon VA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 6, 4,471 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 360° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 29.96 inHg
- Observation at 4:35 pm from VJI
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.