ERA17LA225

Factual narrative

On July 3, 2017, about 1300 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-15, N4195H, was destroyed when it was involved in an accident near Farmville, Virginia. The private pilot was seriously injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. In a statement provided to a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector, the pilot reported that he purchased the airplane the day before the accident and was flying back to his home airport when he made a precautionary landing in a field due to a possible fuel transfer issue. After troubleshooting and confirming fuel flow to the engine, he attempted to take off from the field. The pilot reported that, due to the high vegetation, the airplane was "not able to get enough airspeed to climb out and clear the trees at the end of the field." The pilot initiated a turn, which resulted in a low altitude stall. The left wing impacted terrain and the airplane cartwheeled and came to rest upright in a corn field. The pilot did not submit the National Transportation Safety Board Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident/Incident Report Form 6120.1. Examination of the wreckage by the FAA inspector revealed it came to rest in a corn field and was consumed by an extensive postcrash fire. During the cross-country flight, the pilot performed a precautionary landing in a field due to a possible fuel flow issue. After determining that fuel was flowing to the engine, the pilot attempted to depart from the field, which was covered in high vegetation. The pilot reported that the condition of the field resulted in inadequate airspeed to climb out and clear the trees at the end of the field. The pilot initiated a turn, during which he exceeded the airplane's critical angle of attack, resulting in an aerodynamic stall and impact with terrain. The left wing impacted terrain and the airplane cartwheeled. It came to rest upright, in the field and was destroyed by a postcrash fire. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database Retrieved: 2026-02-12

NTSB Findings

FAA avdata. C = Cause, F = Factor.

• — Personnel issues-Action/decision-Info processing/decision-Decision making/judgment-Pilot
• — Environmental issues-Physical environment-Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface-(general)-Effect on equipment
• — Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-Angle of attack-Capability exceeded
• — Personnel issues-Task performance-Use of equip/info-Aircraft control-Pilot
• — Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-Airspeed-Not attained/maintained