Fairchild M-62A-3 accident near Monroe, North Carolina, December 17, 1987
On December 17, 1987 at about 8:45 pm local time, a Fairchild M-62A-3, registered N9132H, was destroyed in an accident near Monroe, North Carolina (Goose Creek airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. 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 17, 1987 · about 8:45 pm local time
- Place
- Monroe, North Carolina · Goose Creek · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Fairchild M-62A-3 · all M-62A-3s on the register
- Registration
- N9132H · no longer on the register · serial T44 4425
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
REPTDLY, THE FLT PURPOSE WAS TO ADMINISTER A BFR TO THE PLT/OWNER OF THE ACFT. THE FIRST TAKEOFF WAS ABORTED. THE ACFT DEPTD AGAIN WITHOUT AN APPARENT PROBLEM. AFTER ABOUT 30 MINUTES, THE APT MGR HEARD AND SAW THE ACFT IN A VERTICAL DESCENT AND ROTATING ABOUT THE LONGITUDINAL AXIS. IT DISAPPEARED BEHIND TREES. THE WRECKAGE WAS FOUND IN A WOODLAND AND THE WRECKAGE SCATTER PATTERN INDICATED AN INFLIGHT BREAK-UP. NO EVIDENCE OF ROT WAS FOUND IN THE PRIMARY WOOD STRUCTURE OF THE AIRCRAFT. IT WAS NOT DETERMINED WHAT MANEUVER PRECEDED THE BREAKUP OR WHICH PILOT WAS OPERATING THE FLIGHT CONTROLS.
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; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 827 hours in all; 67 in the last 30 days; 676 as pilot in command; 522 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rear
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,292 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 10, 1987; 11 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,800 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Ranger 6-44D-C5 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 28A Indian Trail NC at 8:15 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0, 2,350 ft by 60 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 300° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 46°F (8°C), dew point 18°F (-8°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:50 pm from CLT, 20 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.