Piper PA-32-300 accident near Fredericksburg, Virginia, February 22, 1992
On February 22, 1992 at about 11:45 pm local time, a Piper PA-32-300, registered N2921G, was substantially damaged in an accident near Fredericksburg, Virginia (Shannon airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN THE PROPER GLIDE PATH. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE DELAYED REMEDIAL ACTION BY THE PILOT AND NIGHT CONDITIONS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 22, 1992 · about 11:45 pm local time
- Place
- Fredericksburg, Virginia · Shannon
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-32-300 · all PA-32-300s on the register
- Registration
- N2921G · no longer on the register · serial 32-7940202
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT WAS MAKING AN APPROACH AT NIGHT ON RUNWAY 23 WHICH IS 2999 FEET LONG, 100 FEET WIDE AND HAS TERRAIN THAT SLOPES DOWN AT THE APPROACH END. THE AIRPLANE LANDED 45 FEET SHORT, THE LANDING GEAR WAS TORN OFF, AND THE AIRPLANE CAME TO REST ON THE RUNWAY. THE PILOT AND THE PILOT RATED PASSENGER BOTH SAID THE ENGINE FAILED TO RESPOND TO APPLICATION OF THE THROTTLE. WHEN INTERVIEWED, THE PILOT TOLD THE FAA HE RECOGNIZED HE WAS GOING TO LAND SHORT WHEN APPROXIMATELY 250 FEET AGL, HOWEVER, APPLICATION OF POWER WAS NOT MADE UNTIL JUST PRIOR TO TOUCHDOWN. THE ENGINE WAS TEST RUN WHILE STILL ATTACHED TO THE AIRFRAME. THE TESTS INCLUDED ACCELERATION TESTS AND THE ENGINE RESPONDED SATISFACTORILY.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,457 hours in all; 1,050 in this make and model; 27 in the last 90 days; 9 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,995 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, February 4, 1992; 17 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,400 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Dettinger Aviation
The flight
- Departed from: LVL Lawrenceville VA at 10:45 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 23, 2,999 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 210° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 37°F (3°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:41 pm from EZF, 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.