Piper PA-30 accident near Charlotte, North Carolina, May 29, 1984
On May 29, 1984 at about 9:42 pm local time, a Piper PA-30, registered N7217Y, was destroyed in an accident near Charlotte, North Carolina (Douglas Int'L airport). It was a positioning flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was 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 29, 1984 · about 9:42 pm local time
- Place
- Charlotte, North Carolina · Douglas Int'L
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-30 · all PA-30s on the register
- Registration
- N7217Y · no longer on the register · serial 30-243
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Positioning flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
PLT DEPARTED RWY 18L AND SHORTLY THEREAFTER REPORTED TO THE TOWER THAT HE HAD A STUCK TRIM. THE PLT WAS CLEARED TO LAND ON RWY 18R. WITNESSES OBSERVED THE ACFT DESCEND RAPIDLY ON DOWNWIND TO APPROX 300 TO 500 FT AGL AND MAKE A STEEP (90 TO 120 DEGREE) RIGHT BANK TURN. THE NOSE OF THE ACFT CAME UP TO THE HORIZON AFTER THE TURN, JUST PRIOR TO GND IMPACT. THE PURPOSE OF THE FLT WAS TO REPOSITION THE ACFT FOR BANK COURIER FLIGHTS. EXAM OF THE TRIM SYSTEM REVEALED DISCONNECTED AND DETERIORATED WIRING AND OTHER ELECTRIC MECHANICAL PROBLEMS. THE MANUAL TRIM HANDLE WAS FOUND SEPARATED FROM ITS PROPER MOUNT POSITION.
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: airline transport pilot, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 4,550 hours in all; 1,010 in this make and model; 253 in the last 90 days; 97 in the last 30 days; 4,350 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 10,327 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, May 14, 1984; 26 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-320-B1A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: CLT at 9:40 pm
- Destination: GCY Greenville TN
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18R, 10,000 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 200° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 3,500 ft
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 64°F (18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:50 pm from CLT, 1 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.