Amateur-built PIEL EMERAUDE accident near Hillsville, Virginia, July 13, 1998
On July 13, 1998 at about 8:45 pm local time, a amateur-built PIEL EMERAUDE, registered N86WB, was substantially damaged in an accident near Hillsville, Virginia. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A blocked fuel strainer due to an inadequate maintenance inspection by the previous owner, which resulted in fuel starvation.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 13, 1998 · about 8:45 pm local time
- Place
- Hillsville, Virginia · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built PIEL EMERAUDE PIEL EMERA
- Registration
- N86WB · registry record · serial 1418
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported he had just purchased the airplane and was flying to his home base. While in cruise flight, the pilot experienced surges of engine power between full and idle power. After the second decrease in engine RPM, the pilot selected a forced landing area. During the approach to a field the airplane's propeller struck a power line. After touchdown, the airplane continued approximately 300 to 400 feet before it struck a fence and several trees. An examination of the wreckage by an FAA Airworthiness Inspector revealed 'extreme' amounts of debris in the fuel strainer bowl. Examination of the maintenance records revealed an annual inspection had been recorded by an FAA certificated airframe and powerplant mechanic 4.5 aircraft hours prior to the accident. The previous owner revealed to the FAA Inspector that he had performed the inspection and forged the mechanic's signature in the maintenance logbook.
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: airline transport pilot, flight instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: helicopter; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 17,500 hours in all; 1 in this make and model; 25 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 16,000 as pilot in command; 70 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 453 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 15, 1998; 4 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: ZEF Elkin Municipal NC at 8:15 pm
- Destination: CKB Clarksburg WV
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 130° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 7,000 ft
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 79°F (26°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:54 pm from ROA, 50 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.