Piper PA-28-180 accident near Charlotte, North Carolina, September 29, 2004
On September 29, 2004 at about 10:15 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-180, registered N41985, was substantially damaged in an accident near Charlotte, North Carolina (Wilgrove Air Park airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's misjudgment of speed and distance resulting in an overrun and collision with trees.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 29, 2004 · about 10:15 pm local time
- Place
- Charlotte, North Carolina · Wilgrove Air Park · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-180 · all PA-28-180s on the register
- Registration
- N41985 · registry record · serial 28-7405157
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot stated he entered left traffic for runway 35 at Wellington Air Park. He turned on final approach and realized that he was high. He lowered the nose of the airplane and began his landing flare over the runway at 100 mph. The airplane touched down long and fast, went off the departure over run to the right and collided with trees. Examination of the runway revealed light tire marks about 600 feet from the departure end of runway 35 followed by heavy skid marks about 500 feet from the departure end of the runway. The runway is 2,835 feet in length.
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: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 162 hours in all; 162 in this make and model; 8 in the last 90 days; 7 in the last 30 days; 82 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: June 12, 2004
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,514 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 1, 2004; 82 hours since
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A4A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: GGE Georgtown SC at 10:45 pm
- Destination: 8A6 Charlotte NC
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 35, 2,700 ft by 40 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 8 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 1,800 ft
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 59°F (15°C)
- Altimeter: 29.95 inHg
- Observation at 10:51 pm from CLT, 13 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.