Piper PA-44-180 accident near Battleboro, North Carolina, June 8, 2003
On June 8, 2003 at about 5:40 pm local time, a Piper PA-44-180, registered N578TP, was substantially damaged in an accident near Battleboro, North Carolina. It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 3 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The certified flight instructor's (CFI) failure to maintain flying speed that resulted in a stall/spin and the uncontrolled collision with the ground.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 8, 2003 · about 5:40 pm local time
- Place
- Battleboro, North Carolina · map
- Type
- Accident · collision on the ground
- Injuries
- 3 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-44-180 · all PA-44-180s on the register
- Registration
- N578TP · no longer on the register · serial 44-7995254
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The purpose of the instructional flight was to add-on muti-engine, instrument onto the dual students certified flight instructor rating. The flight departed at 1315, the instrument flight plan was cancelled and the flight continued under visual flight rules. Examination of the radar data shows the airplane conducting maneuvers at altitudes between 4,200 and 4,700 feet above ground level. Approximately 1340, an eyewitness heard the airplane flying overhead and then heard the engine sound stop. They looked up and saw the airplane spinning towards the ground. The witness did not recall hearing the engines running during the final descent. The pilot prior to the accident reported no flight control or mechanical anomalies. No anomalies with the airplane were noted during the post-crash examination.
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
Flight instructor
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 500 hours in all; 350 in this make and model; 93 in the last 90 days; 26 in the last 30 days; 460 as pilot in command; 200 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: fatal
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 935 hours in all; 820 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,429 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, May 21, 2003; 18 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,800 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Lycoming O-360-E1A6D (piston); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: Lycoming O-360-E1A6D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: RDU Raleigh/Durham NC at 4:55 pm
- Destination: RWI Rocky Mount NC
- Flight plan: IFR
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 220° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 4,300 ft; scat at 2,000 ft
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 75°F (24°C)
- Altimeter: 29.84 inHg
- Observation at 5:51 pm from RDU, 50 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 | |||
| 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.