Sukhoi SU-31 accident near Markham, Virginia, August 23, 2007
On August 23, 2007 at about 5:30 pm local time, a Sukhoi SU-31, registered N131BW, was destroyed in an accident near Markham, Virginia. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control. Contributing to the accident were a fuel leak as reported by the pilot, the pilot's diverted attention, a low cloud ceiling, and fog.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 23, 2007 · about 5:30 pm local time
- Place
- Markham, Virginia · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Sukhoi SU-31 · all SU-31s on the register
- Registration
- N131BW · no longer on the register · serial 05-01
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The non-instrument-rated pilot reported that he obtained a weather briefing via computer, and departed on a visual flight rules (VFR) cross-country flight. The pilot further stated that approximately 30 minutes after departure, he became disoriented as to his location and altitude, while looking for the source of a fuel leak and searching for a suitable landing area. Witnesses near the accident site reported low ceilings and heavy fog. In addition, weather recorded near the accident site, about the time of the accident, included an overcast ceiling at 1,200 feet and 7 miles visibility. The wreckage was consumed by fire, and a wreckage examination could not be performed, nor a fuel leak identified.
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
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 5,400 hours in all; 2,700 in this make and model; 40 in the last 90 days; 15 in the last 30 days; 5,000 as pilot in command; 3,000 on instruments
- Last flight review: April 1, 2007
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: sngl
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 380 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, April 1, 2007; 16 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,100 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Vendeneyev M14PF (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: W66 Warrenton VA at 5:00 pm
- Destination: N57 Toughkenamon PA
- Flight plan: VFR
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 1,200 ft
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 68°F (20°C)
- Altimeter: 30.14 inHg
- Observation at 5:20 pm from OKV, 15 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number NYC07LA201.