Piper PA-28-161 accident near Melfa, Virginia, November 19, 1998
On November 19, 1998 at about 7:46 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-161, registered N1685H, was destroyed in an accident near Melfa, Virginia (Accomack County Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The loss of engine power for undetermined reasons.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 19, 1998 · about 7:46 pm local time
- Place
- Melfa, Virginia · Accomack County Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-161 · all PA-28-161s on the register
- Registration
- N1685H · no longer on the register · serial 28-7716043
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
Immediately after take-off during the climb-out, the airplane's engine ceased operating. The pilot was unable to maintain altitude and executed a forced landing in wooded terrain off the end of the departure runway. Both pilot and passenger exited the aircraft on their own and sustained minor injuries. The pilot reported checking the fuel prior to take-off and found no contaminates. He verified the engine driven fuel pump was in the 'on' position. The engine was examined and test-run satisfactorily. No pre-impact discrepancies were noted with the engine or related systems. Examination of a fuel sample revealed it was absent of contaminates.
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: commercial pilot, private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,241 hours in all; 150 in this make and model; 4 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days; 1,191 as pilot in command; 200 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,263 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 28, 1998; 30 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,350 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-O3G (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MFV at 7:44 pm
- Destination: GED Georgetown DE
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 21, 4,999 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 50°F (10°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:55 pm from MFV, 1 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.
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.