Piper PA-22-150 accident near Roanoke, Virginia, May 12, 2003
On May 12, 2003 at about 8:30 pm local time, a Piper PA-22-150, registered CFKLW, was substantially damaged in an accident near Roanoke, Virginia (Roanoke Regional Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's inadequate compensation for winds, and failure to maintain directional control. A factor in this accident was the gusty wind conditions.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 12, 2003 · about 8:30 pm local time
- Place
- Roanoke, Virginia · Roanoke Regional Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-22-150 · all PA-22-150s on the register
- Registration
- CFKLW · no longer on the register · serial 6190
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot was landing on runway 24, when the airplane experienced a wind gust just after touchdown. The airplane became airborne again and departed the left side of the runway. The airplane impacted on a taxiway, which damaged the horizontal stabilizer, vertical stabilizer, rudder, right elevator, and portions of the fuselage. The pilot did not report any mechanical malfunctions. Winds reported at the airport about the time of the accident, were from 290 degrees at 19 knots, with 30 knot gusts.
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: 1,800 hours in all; 1,000 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,788 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 25, 2003; 40 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,000 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming 150-A1A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: DNL Augusta GA at 6:00 pm
- Destination: ROA Roanoke VA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 24, 6,800 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 290° at 19 knots, gusting 30
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 7,500 ft
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 41°F (5°C)
- Altimeter: 29.78 inHg
- Observation at 8:30 pm from ROA
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.