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).
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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 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 9, 1984 · about 3:30 pm local time
- Place
- Gold Hill, North Carolina · Gold Hill · 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 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number ATL85LA003.