Piper PA-28-160 accident near Hillsville, Virginia, October 10, 2007
On October 10, 2007 at about 2:44 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-160, registered N5235W, was substantially damaged in an accident near Hillsville, Virginia (Twin County airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 3 people were seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain control of the airplane during a go-around.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 10, 2007 · about 2:44 pm local time
- Place
- Hillsville, Virginia · Twin County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-160 · all PA-28-160s on the register
- Registration
- N5235W · registry record · serial 28-275
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to the brother of the pilot, he was watching the pilot land, and he saw the airplane veer off the right side of the runway. The engine power increased and the airplane began to climb; however, the airplane flew into an embankment and collided with trees. The pilot's brother further stated that the pilot told him he had lost control of the airplane during landing, and that he had attempted a go-around. Additionally, the pilot told him that there were no problems with the airplane; he just "lost control of it."
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: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 90 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 2,200 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 53A Montezuma GA at 11:30 am
- Destination: HLX Hillsville VA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 19, 4,204 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 290° at 10 knots, gusting 22
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 29.92 inHg
- Observation at 2:34 pm from HLX
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
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.