Piper PA-34-200 accident near Concord, North Carolina, April 4, 1985
On April 4, 1985 at about 7:10 pm local time, a Piper PA-34-200, registered N1071U, was substantially damaged in an accident near Concord, North Carolina (Propst airport). It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 5 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 November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 4, 1985 · about 7:10 pm local time · cases in 1985
- Place
- Concord, North Carolina · Propst · cases near this airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 5 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-34-200 · all PA-34-200s on the register
- Registration
- N1071U · registry record · serial 34-7250066
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT REPORTED THAT THE PVT ARPT AT THE DESTINATION HAD A UNIDIRECTIONAL STRIP WITH HI OBSTRUCTIONS ON BOTH ENDS. OBSTACLES, RWY SLOPE & NOISE ABATEMENT CONSIDERATIONS REQUIRED THAT RWY 4 BE USED FOR LANDINGS. AT 1351 EST, THE WIND AT CHARLOTTE, NC WAS FROM 220 DEG AT 16 GUSTING 27 KTS. DURING ARRIVAL AT CONCORD, THE FINAL APCH WAS FLOWN AT 100 MPH. A WITNESS REPORTED THAT THE ACFT TOUCHED DOWN ABOUT 1350 FT FROM THE APCH END, THEN BOUNCED 2 OR 3 TIMES. THE PLT WAS UNABLE TO STOP ON THE RWY & INTENTIONALLY GROUND LOOPED THE ACFT AFTER TRAVELING BEYOND THE DEPARTURE END. HE STATED THAT THE LEFT BRAKE WAS NOT WORKING SUFFICIENTLY & HE USED RUDDER & DIFFERENTIAL POWER FOR DIRECTIONAL CONTROL. SKID MARKS WERE FOUND STARTING ABOUT 2000 FT FROM THE APCH END OF THE RWY. STOPPING DISTANCE FOR THE CONDITIONS WAS CALCULATED TO BE 2711 FT; THE ACFT HAD TOUCHED DOWN WITH ABOUT 2050 FT REMAINING. WHEN CHECKED AFTER THE ACCIDENT, THE BRAKE PEDALS FELT SPONGY. THE LEFT BRAKE PAD WAS DISCOLORED BLUE.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,630 hours in all; 747 in this make and model; 148 in the last 90 days; 1,413 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,807 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 14, 1984
- Maximum gross weight: 4,000 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-C1E6 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: CAE Columbia SC at 6:15 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 4, 3,400 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 220° at 16 knots, gusting 27
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 39°F (4°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:51 pm from CLT, 21 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 4 |
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
- N1071U on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Piper PA-34 Seneca 996 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Piper 44,838 aircraft on the register
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-C1E6 43 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Campbell Lake Seaplane Base · nearest airport
- Columbia Metro Airport · departed from
- Accidents and incidents in North Carolina 1,762 since 1982 · 305 in the last ten years
- North Carolina 7,122 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/ATL85LA129.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.