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Accidents · NTSB ATL85FA007 · Preliminary: the investigation is not finished

Piper PA-28-151 and Piper PA-38-112 mid-air collision near Morgantown, North Carolina, October 11, 1984

On October 11, 1984 at about 10:00 pm local time, 2 aircraft, Piper PA-28-151 (N32828) and Piper PA-38-112 (N2553A), were involved in a mid-air collision near Morgantown, North Carolina (Silver Creek airport). 2 people were killed. 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 November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.

What the record shows

Date
October 11, 1984 · about 10:00 pm local time · cases in 1984
Place
Morgantown, North Carolina · Silver Creek · cases near this airport · map
Type
Accident · mid-air collision
Injuries
2 people were killed.
Weather
visual conditions (good weather)
Aircraft 1
Piper PA-28-151 · all PA-28-151s on the register
Registration
N32828 · no longer on the register · serial 28-7515253
Damage
Destroyed
Flight
Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
Aircraft 2
Piper PA-38-112 · all PA-38-112s on the register
Registration
N2553A · no longer on the register · serial 38-78A0754
Damage
Destroyed
Flight
Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)

The NTSB's narrative for the Piper PA-28-151 final · quoted from the NTSB record

N2553A WAS IN TRAFFIC PATTERN CONDUCTING TOUCH AND GO LANDINGS. N32828 WAS MANEUVERING BELOW THE TRAFFIC PATTERN AND WAS SEEN CLIMBING IN DIRECTION OF N2553A. N32828 WAS FLYING WESTERLY INTO THE SUN. N2553A WAS SEEN IN A SHALLOW LEFT TURN FROM CROSSWIND TO DOWNWIND. THE RIGHT OUTBOARD WING PANEL OF N2553A AND THE LEFT OUTBOARD WING PANEL OF N32828 COLLIDED.

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 NTSB's narrative for the Piper PA-38-112 final · quoted from the NTSB record

N2553A WAS IN TRAFFIC PATTERN CONDUCTING TOUCH AND GO LANDINGS. N32828 WAS MANEUVERING BELOW THE TRAFFIC PATTERN AND WAS SEEN CLIMBING IN DIRECTION OF N2553A. N32828 WAS FLYING WESTERLY INTO THE SUN. N2553A WAS SEEN IN A SHALLOW LEFT TURN FROM CROSSWIND TO DOWNWIND. THE RIGHT OUTBOARD WING PANEL OF N2553A AND THE LEFT OUTBOARD WING PANEL OF N32828 COLLIDED.

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 for the Piper PA-28-151 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English

Pilot

  • Certificate: private
  • Ratings: single-engine land
  • Flight time: 155 hours in all; 2 in the last 90 days
  • Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
  • Seat: left

The aircraft

  • Airframe total time: 1,884 hours
  • Last inspection: annual inspection, March 27, 1984; 77 hours since
  • Maximum gross weight: 2,325 lb
  • Seats: 4
  • Landing gear: fixed
  • Engine: Lycoming O-320-E3D (piston); 0 hours total

The flight

  • Departed from: Morganton NC at 9:55 pm
  • Flight plan: none
  • Runway 9, 2,900 ft by 200 ft

Weather at the time

  • Light: daylight
  • Wind: from 080° at 7 knots
  • Visibility: 10 statute miles
  • Sky: broken clouds at 25,000 ft; not recorded at 25,000 ft
  • Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
  • Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
  • Observation at 10:52 pm from HKY, 15 miles away

Injuries

FatalSeriousMinorNone
Crew1

The factual record for the Piper PA-38-112 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English

Pilot

  • Certificate: student
  • Flight time: 18 hours in all; 18 in this make and model; 18 in the last 90 days; 3 as pilot in command
  • Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
  • Seat: left

The aircraft

  • Airframe total time: 1,455 hours
  • Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, August 20, 1984; 61 hours since
  • Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
  • Seats: 2
  • Landing gear: fixed
  • Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C (piston); 0 hours total
  • Fire on the ground

The flight

  • Flight plan: none
  • Runway 9, 2,900 ft by 200 ft

Injuries

FatalSeriousMinorNone
Crew1

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.

Connections how this case links to the rest of the register

Aircraft
Place
Analytics

The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/ATL85FA007.json.

The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.

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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.