Cessna 172C accident near Portsmouth Isl., North Carolina, August 30, 1983
On August 30, 1983 at about 4:30 pm local time, a Cessna 172C, registered N8338X, was substantially damaged in an accident near Portsmouth Isl., North Carolina (Portsmouth Island 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 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
- August 30, 1983 · about 4:30 pm local time
- Place
- Portsmouth Isl., North Carolina · Portsmouth Island · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172C · all 172Cs on the register
- Registration
- N8338X · registry record · serial 17248838
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
BEFORE HAULING PASSENGERS, THE PLT ELECTED TO MAKE A FLT TO SURVEY THE AREA & TO PRACTICE A LANDING ON PORTSMOUTH ISLAND. HE ESTIMATED THAT THE WIND AT PORTSMOUTH WAS FROM THE NORTH AT 15 TO 20 KTS. ALSO, HE SAID THAT THE ARPT WAS ORIENTED TOWARD THE NORTHEAST & THAT TREES FORMED A BARRIER ON THE WEST & SOUTH SIDES OF THE RWY. WHILE ON A SHORT FINAL APCH WITH FULL FLAPS, AT ABOUT 200 FT & 67 MPH, THE STALL WARNING HORN SOUNDED, THE NOSE PITCHED DOWN & THE ACFT STRUCK THE GROUND. ACCORDING TO THE OWNER'S MANUAL, THE STALL SPEED WITH FULL FLAPS WAS 49 MPH.
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
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 2,250 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-300-D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Ocracoke Island NC
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 6, 3,000 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 360° at 17 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 2,000 ft
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 72°F (22°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:50 pm from HAT, 25 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.