Piper PA-28R-180 accident near Vine Grove, Kentucky, September 1, 1994
On September 1, 1994 at about 2:30 pm local time, a Piper PA-28R-180, registered N3256R, was substantially damaged in an accident near Vine Grove, Kentucky (Vine Grove airport). 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 (1) inadequate compensation for wind conditions and (2) failure to align with the runway during landing touch down.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 1, 1994 · about 2:30 pm local time
- Place
- Vine Grove, Kentucky · Vine Grove · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28R-180 · all PA-28R-180s on the register
- Registration
- N3256R · no longer on the register · serial 28R-31253
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AFTER A LOCAL FLIGHT, THE PILOT WAS ON FINAL TO THE PRIVATE GRASS STRIP WHERE THE FLIGHT ORIGINATED. HE HELD LEFT CONTROL CORRECTION ON FINAL FOR A LEFT QUARTERING HEAD WIND. ACCORDING TO THE PILOT, AT GROUND LEVEL THE WIND 'QUIT.' THE AIRPLANE TOUCHED DOWN WITH THE LEFT MAIN GEAR OFF OF THE LEFT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY. THE PILOT WAS NOT ABLE TO DIRECT THE AIRPLANE TO THE CENTER OF THE RUNWAY. THE AIRPLANE TRAVELED ABOUT 90 FEET, THE LEFT GEAR WENT INTO A DITCH, AND THE LEFT WING STRUCK A WOODEN POST. THE AIRPLANE THEN DID A LEFT GROUND LOOP. WINDS REPORTED 11 MILES FROM THE ACCIDENT SITE WERE AT 060 DEGREES AT 8 KNOTS.
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: 830 hours in all; 388 in this make and model; 5 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,449 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 30, 1994; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,500 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-BIE (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 11, 2,300 ft by 40 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 060° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 25,000 ft; scat at 10,000 ft
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:57 pm from FTK, 6 miles away
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.