Globe Swift GC1B accident near Southern Pines, North Carolina, November 26, 2003
On November 26, 2003 at about 8:30 pm local time, a Globe Swift GC1B, registered N3210K, was substantially damaged in an accident near Southern Pines, North Carolina. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain directional control of the airplane during the landing roll, which resulted in an inadvertent ground loop and the collapse of the landing gear.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 26, 2003 · about 8:30 pm local time
- Place
- Southern Pines, North Carolina · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Globe Swift GC1B
- Registration
- N3210K · registry record · serial 1203
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to the pilot after he made a normal touchdown he then lost directional control. The airplane ground looped separating the right gear strut at the wing attachment, and collapsing the left main landing gear. The pilot stated that there were no mechanical or engine problems at the time of the accident.
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: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, flight engineer
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 24,000 hours in all; 100 in this make and model; 40 in the last 90 days; 15 in the last 30 days; 10,000 as pilot in command; 50 on instruments
- Last flight review: March 17, 2002
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,065 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 19, 2003; 14 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,970 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental IO-360-C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SOP Southern Pines NC
- Destination: SOP
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 300° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 59°F (15°C), dew point 41°F (5°C)
- Altimeter: 30.14 inHg
- Observation at 3:35 pm from SOP
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.