Piper PA-28R-201T accident near Lockwood, West Virginia, September 10, 1994
On September 10, 1994 at about 7:39 pm local time, a Piper PA-28R-201T, registered N47457, was substantially damaged in an accident near Lockwood, West 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
An electrical ground short of the ignition wires which resulted in a loss of engine power.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 10, 1994 · about 7:39 pm local time
- Place
- Lockwood, West Virginia
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28R-201T PA-28R-201 · all PA-28R-201Ts on the register
- Registration
- N47457 · registry record · serial 28R-770380
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT MADE A FORCED LANDING AFTER THE ENGINE LOST POWER. ACCORDING TO THE PILOT, HE WAS ON A CRUISE CLIMB, PASSING THROUGH 7000 FT FOR 10,000 FT WHEN THE POWER LOSS OCCURRED. THE POWER LOSS WAS PRECEDED BY AN ELECTRICAL 'BURNING' SMELL. THE PILOT RESTARTED THE ENGINE, BUT THE POWER LOSS OCCURRED AGAIN. DURING THE FORCED LANDING THE PILOT FLEW UNDER POWER LINES AND INTENTIONALLY STALLED THE AIRPLANE TO AVOID A HOUSE. THE PILOT LANDED IN A WATERMELON PATCH WHERE THE LANDING GEAR COLLAPSED AND THE LEFT WING WAS DAMAGED. EXAMINATION OF THE AIRPLANE REVEALED THE RIGHT AND LEFT MAGNETO IGNITION HARNESS WERE DAMAGED BY HEAT. A CONTINUITY CHECK OF THE HARNESS REVEALED ALL BUT FOUR OF THE WIRE LEADS WERE SHORTED. THE EXAMINATION DID NOT DISCLOSE A HEAT SOURCE EXTERNAL TO THE HARNESS.
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: 337 hours in all; 66 in this make and model; 14 in the last 90 days; 270 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,724 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 25, 1993; 22 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,900 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSIO-360-KF (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 29G Ravenna OH at 6:15 pm
- Destination: EQY Monroe NC
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 280° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 4,500 ft
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:58 pm from CRW, 27 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.