Cessna 172N accident near Gold Hill, North Carolina, October 9, 1984
On October 9, 1984 at about 3:30 pm local time, a Cessna 172N, registered N737MW, was substantially damaged in an accident near Gold Hill, North Carolina (Gold Hill airport). It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 2 others were unhurt. 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 9, 1984 · about 3:30 pm local time · cases in 1984
- Place
- Gold Hill, North Carolina · Gold Hill · cases near this airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 2 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172N · all 172Ns on the register
- Registration
- N737MW · registry record · serial 17269531
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT WAS UABLE TO RAISE UNICOM FOR WIND ADVISORIES AND WAS UNABLE TO FIND THE WIND SOCK TO AID IN RWY SELECTION. HE DID SEE SOME SMOKE ON THE GROUND WHICH INDICATED CALM WINDS.DURING HIS FLARE THE ACFT FLOATED ABOUT HALFWAY DOWN THE RWY, TOUCHED DOWN AND THE PLT DECIDED IT WAS TOO LATE TO INITATE A GO-AROUND. HE APPLIED FULL BRAKING BUT WAS UNABLE TO STOP BEFORE RUNNING OFF THE END OF THE RWY INTO A WOODED AREA. AFTER THE ACCIDENT THE PLT ESTIMATED THAT HE LANDED IN A RIGHT QUARTERING TAILWIND OF 4 TO 7 KNOTS. THE LENGTH OF THE GRASS RWY IS 2600 FT.
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
- Flight time: 263 hours in all; 113 in this make and model; 31 in the last 90 days; 146 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection; 30 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,150 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-H2AD (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: FAY Fayetteville NC at 2:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27, 2,600 ft by 80 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 040° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 4 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds; clear
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 59°F (15°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:50 pm from CLT
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 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.
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N737MW on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Cessna 172 Skyhawk 20,687 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Cessna 72,682 aircraft on the register
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-H2AD 83 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Gold Hill Airport · nearest airport
- Fayetteville Rgnl/Grannis Field · departed from
- Accidents and incidents in North Carolina 1,762 since 1982 · 305 in the last ten years
- North Carolina 7,120 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/ATL85LA003.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.