Douglas DC-3 accident near Charlotte, North Carolina, February 5, 1985
On February 5, 1985 at about 11:53 am local time, a Douglas DC-3, registered N28BA, was substantially damaged in an accident near Charlotte, North Carolina (Charlotte/Douglas airport). It was flown under scheduled airline rules (Part 121). No one was hurt; 2 people were 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
- February 5, 1985 · about 11:53 am local time
- Place
- Charlotte, North Carolina · Charlotte/Douglas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Douglas DC-3 · all DC-3s on the register
- Registration
- N28BA · registry record · serial 4583
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight · scheduled airline rules (Part 121)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT ATTEMPTED AN INSRUMENT DEPARTURE FROM CHARLOTTE, NC, WITHOUT DEICING THE ACFT WHICH WITNESSES STATED, HAD ICE ON THE AIRFRAME. DURING CLIMBOUT, THE PLT WAS NOT ABLE TO MAINTAIN ELEVATOR CONTROL SO HE RETURNED TO LAND AT CHARLOTTE.DURING THE LANDING ROLL THE ACFT TRAVELED OFF THE DEPARTURE END OF THE RWY. THE WINDSHIELDS WERE REPORTED TO HAVE BEEN COVERED WITH ICE AND VISUAL LOOKOUT WAS DIFFICULT.
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
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 4,700 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 23,158 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme; 113 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 26,900 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: P&W R1830-9005 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Bo-S-Aire Airlines, INC.
The flight
- Departed from: Charlotte NC at 11:48 am
- Destination: Charleston SC
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 18L, 7,845 ft by 150 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 050° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 4,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 28°F (-2°C), dew point 25°F (-4°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:50 am from CLT
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
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.
Other NTSB records under N28BA the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.