Piper PA-28R-200 accident near Shuffletown, North Carolina, September 6, 1985
On September 6, 1985 at about 8:35 pm local time, a Piper PA-28R-200, registered N6102J, was destroyed in an accident near Shuffletown, North Carolina (Charlotte/Dulles Int'L airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries. 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
- September 6, 1985 · about 8:35 pm local time
- Place
- Shuffletown, North Carolina · Charlotte/Dulles Int'L · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28R-200 · all PA-28R-200s on the register
- Registration
- N6102J · no longer on the register · serial 28R7635297
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT CONTACTED A FENCE DURING A FORCED LANDING FOLLOWING A LOSS OF PWR. THE FLT ORGINATED AT GRAND LEDGE, MI, AT 1100 EST AND AN UNSCHEDULED LANDING WAS MADE AT ADRIAN, MI, BECAUSE OF WX. THE FLT DEPARTED ADRIAN, MI, AT 1320 EDT. THE PLT REPORTED THAT DURING THE DESCENT INTO CHARLOTTE INT'L AIRPORT FUEL PRESSURE WAS LOST AND SHORTLY THEREAFTER, THEENG QUIT. INSPECTION OF THE ACFT DISCLOSED NO PRESENCE OF FUEL IN EITHER THE FUEL TANKS NOR IN THE FUEL FLOW DIVIDER.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,161 hours in all; 200 in this make and model; 7 in the last 90 days; 7 in the last 30 days; 986 as pilot in command; 466 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,381 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 29, 1985; 28 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,650 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-C1C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: ADG Adrain MI at 5:20 pm
- Destination: CLT Charlotte NC
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18R, 10,000 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 240° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 4,000 ft
- Temperature: 88°F (31°C), dew point 70°F (21°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:50 pm from CLT, 5 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.
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.