Piper PA-23-150 accident near Nellysford, Virginia, April 19, 1993
On April 19, 1993 at about 4:00 pm local time, a Piper PA-23-150, registered N1494P, was substantially damaged in an accident near Nellysford, Virginia. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE INFLIGHT DECISION AND PLANNING, AND HIS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN AN ALTITUDE ADEQUATE FOR TERRAIN AVOIDANCE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 19, 1993 · about 4:00 pm local time
- Place
- Nellysford, Virginia · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-23-150 · all PA-23-150s on the register
- Registration
- N1494P · no longer on the register · serial 23-564
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT STATED THAT HE PLANNED A VFR FLIGHT AT 1000 FT AGL. HIS ROUTE OF FLIGHT WAS OVER HILLY TERRAIN. HE SAID THAT 'CLIMB PERFORMANCE WAS NOTICEABLY LOW AND...SMOKE [WAS COMING] FROM THE LEFT ENGINE.' HE ENTERED A MOUNTAIN PASS AND DISCOVERED HE COULD NOT FIND AN EXIT FROM THE HIGH TERRAIN. THE PILOT MADE A SHARP TURN TO MANEUVER AWAY FROM THE HILLS. WITNESSES SAW THE AIRPLANE FLYING AT LOW ALTITUDE AND THEN SAID IT 'STARTED A TURN TO THE LEFT AND THEN WENT STRAIGHT DOWN, NOSE FIRST.' THEY SAID NOTHING ABOUT SEEING 'PLUMES OF BLACK SMOKE,' OR HEARING ABNORMAL ENGINE SOUNDS. THE LEFT ENGINE WAS EXAMINED, AND EXCEPT FOR ONE MAGNETO THAT WAS NOT FUNCTIONING, NOTHING WAS FOUND THAT WOULD HAVE PREVENTED THE ENGINE FROM RUNNING.
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: airline transport pilot, flight instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 1,938 hours in all; 357 in this make and model; 1,476 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,850 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 19, 1992; 330 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,500 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-A3A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: W36 Chesapeake VA at 1:45 pm
- Destination: MQJ Mt. Comfort IN
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 210° at 17 knots, gusting 25
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 37°F (3°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
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.