Piper PA-28-180 N55263
4 February 1991 · Greensboro, North Carolina, United States · Minor injuries
Summary
On 4 February 1991 at about 20:19 local time, a Piper PA-28-180 registered N55263, operated by Carolina Air Academy, Inc., was involved in an accident near Greensboro, North Carolina, United States. One person was on board and one had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 20:19
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Greensboro, North Carolina, United States
- Nearest airport
- Raleigh-Durham (RDU)
- Coordinates
- Not recorded
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-180
- Registration
- N55263
- Category
- Airplane
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Carolina Air Academy, Inc.
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Mount Airy → Unknown
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- ATL91FA046
People
1 person had minor injuries.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
Probable cause
AN ENCOUNTER WITH WAKE TURBULENCE WHICH RESULTED IN AN UNCONTROLLED DESCENT. AN ADDITIONAL CAUSE WAS PILOT'S PHYSIOLOGICAL CONDITIONS AND HIS USE OF MEDICATION.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
THE STUDENT PILOT DEPARTED THE SMALL UNCONTROLLED AIRPORT AT MOUNT AIRY, NORTH CAROLINA, FOR A LOCAL FLIGHT. DURING THE FLIGHT, HE BECAME DISORIENTED AND LOST. THE FIRST AIRPORT THE STUDENT OBSERVED WAS THE PIEDMONT TRIAD INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, AND HE ATTEMPTED TO LAND ON RUNWAY 23. THE STUDENT PILOT ATTEMPTED TO LAND APPROXIMATELY 100 FEET BEHIND A DC-9 WHICH WAS LANDING ON RUNWAY 23 AT THE SAME TIME, ENCOUNTERED WAKE TURBULENCE, AND CRASHED ON THE SIDE OF THE RUNWAY. AFTER THE ACCIDENT, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE STUDENT PILOT HAD A MALIGNANT TUMOR REMOVED FROM THE BRAIN ABOUT A YEAR EARLIER, AND WAS UNDER HEAVY MEDICATION FOR THE PROBLEM. IT WAS ALSO DISCOVERED THAT THE STUDENT PILOT WAS SUFFERING FROM PREVIOUSLY UNDIAGNOSED ACUTE DIABETES MELLITUS AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Piper PA-28 accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 25 Apr 1991 | Piper PA-28-140 | Hibbing, Minnesota, United States | WM. & Audrey Svigel | Minor injuries | - |
| 22 Oct 1991 | Piper PA-28 | Berryville, Arkansas, United States | Snider, Richard D. | Minor injuries | - |
| 18 Nov 1991 | Piper PA-28-161 | Greeley, Colorado, United States | P.c. Flyers | No injuries | - |
| 14 Jul 1991 | Piper PA-28-180 | Old Bridge, New Jersey, United States | Martin Sade | No injuries | - |
| 27 Jan 1991 | Piper PA-28-140 | Titusville, Florida, United States | Achord, Marvin L. | Minor injuries | - |
| 21 Dec 1991 | Piper PA-28-140 | Yuma, Colorado, United States | Aero Training of the Rockies | No injuries | - |
All 9,402 records for this type
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 Nov 1991 | Aeronca 7AC | Wilson, North Carolina, United States | James, Stanley D. | No injuries | - |
| 28 Nov 1991 | Piper J-3 | Statesville, North Carolina, United States | Rhyne, Jerry R. | Minor injuries | - |
| 4 Dec 1991 | Cessna 172P | Ramseur, North Carolina, United States | Lewis Flying Service | Minor injuries | - |
| 18 Jan 1991 | Beechcraft 35 | Arden, North Carolina, United States | - | Fatal | 1 |
| 27 Jan 1991 | Cessna 337C | Bryson City, North Carolina, United States | Vernon, Barron I & Christopher | Fatal | 1 |
| 7 Feb 1991 | Piper PA-23-250 | Liberty, North Carolina, United States | Shamrock Gravure Products, Inc | Fatal | 1 |