Piper PA-28-151 accident near Quantico, Virginia, November 1, 2003
On November 1, 2003 at about 7:15 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-151, registered N41977, was substantially damaged in an accident near Quantico, Virginia (Quantico Marine/Turner Field). 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 failure to maintain directional control during landing. A factor was the tail wind.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 1, 2003 · about 7:15 pm local time
- Place
- Quantico, Virginia · Quantico Marine/Turner Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-151 · all PA-28-151s on the register
- Registration
- N41977 · registry record · serial 28-7415375
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot touched down on runway 02, which was 4,279 feet long, 200 feet wide, with an asphalt surface, about 500 feet beyond the approach end of the runway. As he applied the brakes, the right brake "seemed to pull harder than the left," and he immediately released the brake pressure. The pilot applied left rudder to compensate for the situation, and the airplane began to "fishtail" down the runway. The airplane traveled off the right side of the runway, and impacted a concrete block, shearing off the right landing gear and damaging the right wing. Examination of the airplane revealed no pre-impact mechanical deficiencies with the airplane, and no skid marks were observed on the runway. The winds were reported to be from 190 degrees at 6 knots. The pilot reported 89 hours of total flight experience, 5 of which were in make and model.
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: 89 hours in all; 7 in this make and model; 13 in the last 90 days; 6 in the last 30 days; 23 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: August 6, 2003
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,079 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 15, 2003; 22 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,325 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Quantico Flying Club
The flight
- Departed from: FYJ West Point VA at 5:45 pm
- Destination: NYG Quantico VA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 2, 4,279 ft by 200 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 190° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 20,000 ft
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 59°F (15°C)
- Altimeter: 30.19 inHg
- Observation at 7:15 pm from NYG
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.