Aviation Crash Map

Piper PA-24-250 N6262P

14 August 1991 · Waxhaw, North Carolina, United States · No injuries

Summary

On 14 August 1991 at about 15:47 local time, a Piper PA-24-250 registered N6262P, operated by Kemp, James O., was involved in an accident near Waxhaw, North Carolina, United States. One person was on board and nobody was injured. 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 15:47
Classification
Accident
Location
Waxhaw, North Carolina, United States
Nearest airport
Aero Plantation (NC21)
Coordinates
34.9196, -80.7409
Aircraft
Piper PA-24-250
Registration
N6262P
Category
Airplane
Engines
1
Operator
Kemp, James O.
Operating rule
Part 91: General Aviation
Purpose of flight
Personal
Phase of flight
Not recorded
Route
Jacksonville → Hickory
Aircraft damage
Substantial
Weather
IMC
Light
Day
NTSB number
ATL91LA158

People

Nobody was injured.

On board Died Serious Minor Uninjured
1 0 0 0 1

Probable cause

THE SPATIAL DISORIENTATION EXPERIENCED BY THE PILOT IN IMC, HIS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN AIRCRAFT CONTROL, AND THE EXCEEDING OF THE DESIGN STRESS LIMITS OF THE AIRCRAFT. FACTOR(S) IN THIS ACCIDENT WERE: THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PLANNING, THE VFR FLIGHT INTO IMC, HIS POOR JUDGEMENT, HIS OVERCONFIDENCE IN HIS PERSONAL ABILITY, AND HIS LACK OF EXPERIENCE IN INSTRUMENT FLYING.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE NON-INSTRUMENT RATED PILOT WAS INFORMED THAT THE WEATHER AT HIS DESTINATION AIRPORT WAS IFR, HOWEVER HE ELECTED TO COMMENCE THE FLIGHT UNDER A VFR FLIGHT PLAN. WHILE FLYING BETWEEN CLOUD LAYERS EN ROUTE, THE WEATHER DETERIORATED, AND HE ENTERED IMC. WHILE BEING VECTORED TOWARD BETTER WEATHER CONDITIONS, HE BECAME DISORIENTED, AND ENTERED A HIGH SPEED DIVE. DURING THE RECOVERY FROM THE DIVE, APPROXIMATELY 50 PERCENT OF THE STABILATOR SEPARATED FROM THE AIRPLANE. THE PILOT WAS ABLE TO FLY THE AIRPLANE TO A NEARBY PRIVATE AIRPORT. HE LANDED THE AIRPLANE HARD ON THE GRASS ADJACENT TO THE RUNWAY. AN INSPECTION OF THE STABILATOR SURFACES REVEALED A POSITIVE 'G' OVERLOAD FAILURE; THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF METAL FATIGUE.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.

Other Piper PA-24 accidents

Date Aircraft Location Operator Outcome Died
30 Oct 1991 Piper PA-24-250
N6815P
Ellicott, Colorado, United States Southwest Aircraft Recovery Minor injuries -
3 Feb 1991 Piper PA-24-260
N9209P
Cordele, Georgia, United States Carter, Richard C. Fatal 3
30 Mar 1991 Piper PA-24-250
N7457P
Franklin, Tennessee, United States Hannasch, Thomas P. Fatal 1
12 Nov 1991 Piper PA-24-260
N9161P
Charles City, Iowa, United States Culbert Aeronautics No injuries -
1 Dec 1991 Piper PA-24-180
N5174P
Sandston, Virginia, United States Michael Kroll Serious injuries -
15 Sep 1991 Piper PA-24-260
N8888P
Tehachapi, California, United States James W. Hager No injuries -

All 2,700 records for this type

Other accidents in this area

Date Aircraft Location Operator Outcome Died
8 Nov 1991 Aeronca 7AC
N84399
Wilson, North Carolina, United States James, Stanley D. No injuries -
28 Nov 1991 Piper J-3
N35535
Statesville, North Carolina, United States Rhyne, Jerry R. Minor injuries -
4 Dec 1991 Cessna 172P
N65013
Ramseur, North Carolina, United States Lewis Flying Service Minor injuries -
18 Jan 1991 Beechcraft 35
N4589V
Arden, North Carolina, United States - Fatal 1
27 Jan 1991 Cessna 337C
N2589S
Bryson City, North Carolina, United States Vernon, Barron I & Christopher Fatal 1
4 Feb 1991 Piper PA-28-180
N55263
Greensboro, North Carolina, United States
no coordinates
Carolina Air Academy, Inc. Minor injuries -

All 170,864 records in United States