Piper PA-28-180 accident near Elkton, Virginia, October 12, 1992
On October 12, 1992 at about 1:15 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-180, registered N5152L, was destroyed in an accident near Elkton, Virginia (Elkton airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S DELAY IN ABORTING THE LANDING WHICH RESULTED IN INSUFFICIENT RUNWAY REMAINING TO ALLOW THE AIRPLANE TO REACH SUFFICIENT ALTITUDE TO CLEAR THE OBSTACLES AT THE END OF THE RUNWAY
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 12, 1992 · about 1:15 pm local time
- Place
- Elkton, Virginia · Elkton · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-180 · all PA-28-180s on the register
- Registration
- N5152L · no longer on the register · serial 28-4447
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WITNESSES SAW THE AIRPLANE MAKE ONE TOUCH AND GO LANDING AND THEN WATCHED IT AS IT CAME AROUND FOR A SECOND LANDING. ON THE SECOND LANDING, THE AIRPLANE TOUCHED DOWN ON THE APPROACH END OF THE 1800 FEET TURF RUNWAY, AND CONTINUED TO ROLL OUT WITHOUT APPARENT BRAKE APPLICATION. WITH APPROXIMATELY 200 FEET OF RUNWAY REMAINING, THE PILOT ADDED POWER TO THE ENGINE AND THE AIRPLANE BECAME AIRBORNE, BUT IT DID NOT HAVE ENOUGH ALTITUDE TO CLEAR A TREE AND A UTILITY POLE AT THE END OF THE RUNWAY. THE AIRPLANE STRUCK THE TREE, THEN THE UTILITY POLE, AND BURST INTO FLAMES BEFORE HITTING THE GROUND AND COMING TO REST.
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: 56 hours in all; 21 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,124 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 2, 1992
- Maximum gross weight: 2,175 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A4A (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: CHO Charlottesville VA at 12:45 pm
- Destination: CHO
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 22, 1,800 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 250° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 6,000 ft
- Temperature: 48°F (9°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
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.