Piper PA-22-150 accident near Charlotte, North Carolina, December 6, 1983
On December 6, 1983 at about 10:26 pm local time, a Piper PA-22-150, registered N7412D, was substantially damaged in an accident near Charlotte, North Carolina (Charlotte/Douglas Inter. 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
- December 6, 1983 · about 10:26 pm local time
- Place
- Charlotte, North Carolina · Charlotte/Douglas Inter.
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-22-150 · all PA-22-150s on the register
- Registration
- N7412D · no longer on the register · serial 22-5173
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING A WX BRIEFING, BEFORE TAKEOFF, THE PLT WAS ADVISED THAT THE WINDS AT CHARLOTTE, NC WERE FORCAST TO BE FROM 230 AT 13 GUSTING TO 24 KTS. HE WAS ALSO ADVISED TO EXPECT MODERATE TO SEVERE TURBULENCE AS WELL AS HIGH EN ROUTE WINDS. WHILE EN ROUTE, HE NOTICED THAT HIS GROUND SPEED WAS IN EXCESS OF 150 MPH. AFTER THE PLT CONTACTED CHAROTTE APCH CONTROL, HE WAS ADVISED THAT THE WINDS WERE FROM 230 DEG AT 25 GUSTING 42 KTS. ALSO, HE WAS ADVISED TO EXPECT WIND SHEAR AT 500 FT, GREAT ENOUGH TO CAUSE A 25 KT LOSS OF AIRSPEED. THE PLT CONTINUED THE APCH & LANDED SUCCESSFULLY. AFTER LANDING, HE ATTEMPTED TO MAKE A 180 DEG TURN TO TAXI TO THE FBO. DURING THE TURN, THE WIND LIFTED THE TAIL & FLIPPED THE ACFT OVER ON ITS TOP.
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; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 2,600 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,033 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 17, 1983; 53 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,950 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-A1A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: A06 Cartersville GA at 8:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 23, 7,501 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 250° at 20 knots, gusting 30
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 59°F (15°C), dew point 30°F (-1°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:46 pm from CLT
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.