Piper PA-32RT-300T accident near Andrews, North Carolina, April 9, 2007
On April 9, 2007 at about 4:00 am local time, a Piper PA-32RT-300T, registered N21423, was destroyed in an accident near Andrews, North Carolina (Andrews Nurphy County Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed and 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's misjudgment of distance and altitude during a night approach for landing, resulting in an in flight collision with wires and the ground.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 9, 2007 · about 4:00 am local time
- Place
- Andrews, North Carolina · Andrews Nurphy County Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed and 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-32RT-300T · all PA-32RT-300Ts on the register
- Registration
- N21423 · no longer on the register · serial 32R-7887205
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot cancelled an instrument flight rules flight plan and was continuing with a night visual approach for landing. A pilot rated passenger located in the right front seat informed the pilot, "I like to fly my approach high." The pilot replied to the passenger either, "I have the approach lights or I' am on the VASI." The pilot rated passenger asked the pilot a short time later, "Why are we off to the left of the runway," and the pilot replied, "Because we are going to crash." A witness who lives south of the airport stated he went outside to smoke a cigarette. He observed an airplane descending towards the airport. The airplane was about 100 feet west of his home in a descent and started a right turn towards the runway. The airplane landing light, navigation lights, and strobe lights were illuminated. A decrease in engine power was heard followed by an increase in engine power. The witness stated it appeared the pilot overshot the runway and collided with the power lines to the left of the runway. The witness observed an electrical flash followed by a fire after the airplane collided with the ground. Examination of the runway revealed no physical evidence to indicate the accident airplane touched down on the ground before the runway overrun, on the overrun, on the runway, or in the grass to the left of Runway 08. The Airport Manager for Andrews Murphy Airport reported no deficiencies with the airport lighting system on April 8, 2007, or April 9, 2007, before the airplane accident. Examination of the airframe, flight controls, engine assembly and accessories revealed no evidence of a pre-crash mechanical failure or malfunction.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 228 hours in all; 150 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: March 1, 2007
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,850 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 1, 2006; 15 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming TIO-540-S1AD (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: KORL Orlando FL at 1:21 am
- Destination: KRHP Andrews NC
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 08, 5,500 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 28°F (-2°C), dew point 18°F (-8°C)
- Altimeter: 30.10 inHg
- Observation at 4:21 am from KRHP
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 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.