Piper PA-28-181 accident near High Point, North Carolina, December 27, 1986
On December 27, 1986 at about 6:30 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-181, registered N8389C, was substantially damaged in an accident near High Point, North Carolina (Darr Field). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 4 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
- December 27, 1986 · about 6:30 pm local time
- Place
- High Point, North Carolina · Darr Field
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-181 · all PA-28-181s on the register
- Registration
- N8389C · no longer on the register · serial 287690129
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT LANDED ON THE WET TURF/GRAVEL RWY WITH A SLIGHT QUARTERING TAIL WIND. RPRTDLY, THE ACFT TOUCHED DOWN ABOUT 1/3 OF THE WAY DOWN THE RWY WITH AN AIRSPEED OF 4 TO 9 KTS ABOVE THE RECOMMENDED SPEED. THE PLT WAS UNABLE TO STOP ON THE REMAINING RWY & STEERED THE ACFT TO THE LEFT TO AVOID A FENCE NEAR THE DEPARTURE END. THE ACFT THEN COLLIDED WITH A RAILROAD EMBANKMENT WHICH WAS ADJACENT TO THE RWY. AN EXAM OF THE BRAKES & TIRES REVEALED THEY WERE IN GOOD CONDITION & SHOULD HAVE FUNCTIONED CORRECTLY.
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
- Flight time: 104 hours in all; 52 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,054 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, November 24, 1986; 34 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,450 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A4M (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Fredrick Aviation
The flight
- Departed from: W78 South Boston VA at 5:15 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 31, 2,305 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 050° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 18,000 ft
- Temperature: 45°F (7°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:50 pm from GSO, 11 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
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.