Cessna 172P accident near Gastonia, North Carolina, May 9, 1983
On May 9, 1983 at about 4:15 pm local time, a Cessna 172P, registered N5324K, was substantially damaged in an accident near Gastonia, North Carolina (Gastonia airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 9, 1983 · about 4:15 pm local time
- Place
- Gastonia, North Carolina · Gastonia · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172P · all 172Ps on the register
- Registration
- N5324K · no longer on the register · serial 17274065
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT STALLED INTO THE GROUND JUST SHORT OF THE RWY AND COLLAPSED THE NOSE GEAR. THE PILOT WAS FLYING FROM THE RIGHT SEAT SO HIS FEMALE PASSENGER COULD USE THE MORE ADJUSTABLE LEFT SEAT. THE PILOT STATED THAT AT 70 KTS ON FINAL APPROACH FOR A LANDING THE ACFT STARTED TO SETTLE AND THE AIRSPEED TO DECAY. HE SAID HE WAS USING 30 DEGREES OF FLAPS BUT AFTER THE ACCIDENT THE FLAPS WERE UP WITH THE HANDLE DOWN. WHEN THE AIRSPEED STARTED TO DECAY HE ADVANCED THE THROTTLE. BEFORETHE ENGINE COULD RESPOND THE PILOT SAID SOMETHING CAUSED THE ACFT TO PITCH UP AND HE INADVERTANTLY PULLED THE THROTTLE OUT (RETARDED IT). THE STALL WARNING CAME ON. HE PUSHED THE THROTTLE BACK IN AND LOWERED THE NOSE AND THE ACFT HIT ON THE NOSE GEAR ABOUT 60 FT SHORT OF THE RWY. THE NOSE GEAR COLLAPSED AND THE ACFT SKIDDED ONTO AND VEERED OFF OF THE RWY.NEITHER OF THE 2 OCCUPANTS WERE USING THE AVAILABLE SHOULDER HARNESS AND BOTH SUSTAINED HEAD INJURIES.
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: 93 hours in all; 4 in this make and model; 6 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, April 15, 1983; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,400 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-D2J (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 3, 3,500 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 030° at 5 knots, gusting 10
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.