Piper PA-28-180 accident near Mt. Airy, North Carolina, August 19, 1983
On August 19, 1983 at about 11:30 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-180, registered N6439J, was substantially damaged in an accident near Mt. Airy, North Carolina (Surry County airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A loss of engine power during takeoff for undetermined reasons. A contributing factor was unsuitable terrain for a forced landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 19, 1983 · about 11:30 pm local time
- Place
- Mt. Airy, North Carolina · Surry County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-180 · all PA-28-180s on the register
- Registration
- N6439J · no longer on the register
- 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 TAKEOFF, AT ABOUT 300 FEET AGL HE NOTICED AN ABNORMALITY BUT NO LOSS OF RPM. AFTER TURNING TO RETURN FOR LANDING THE ENGINE LOST POWER COMPLETELY. PRIOR TO REACHING A FIELD STRAIGHT AHEAD, THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK A POWER LINE CAUSING THE PILOT TO LOSE CONTROL. THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK THE TOP OF A TREE, TOUCHED DOWN BEHIND A HOUSE THEN SLID 100 FEET AND STRUCK A SHED. POST-ACCIDENT EXAM OF THE ENGINE REVEALED NO REASON FOR THE POWER LOSS.
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: 81 hours in all; 2 in this make and model; 32 in the last 90 days; 38 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,945 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, June 22, 1983
- Maximum gross weight: 2,175 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A4A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 36, 3,500 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
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.