Cessna 340A accident near Lincolnton, North Carolina, March 5, 1988
On March 5, 1988 at about 4:50 pm local time, a Cessna 340A, registered N4329C, was substantially damaged in an accident near Lincolnton, North Carolina (Lincoln CO. airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 3 people had minor injuries. 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
- March 5, 1988 · about 4:50 pm local time
- Place
- Lincolnton, North Carolina · Lincoln CO. · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 340A · all 340As on the register
- Registration
- N4329C · no longer on the register · serial 340A0536
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
JUST AFTER LIFT OFF FOR A LCL FLT, THE PLT-IN-CMD, WHO WAS IN THE RIGHT SEAT, NOTED THE FRONT EDGE OF THE NOSE BAGGAGE COMPT TO 'POP OPEN'. HE ASSUMED CONTROL OF THE ACFT AND ATTEMPTED TO 'TEAR DROP' A RETURN TO THE OPPOSITE RUNWAY. DURING THE MANEUVER, THE BAGGAGE DOOR OPENED COMPLETELY AND THE PLT DID NOT ATTAIN ALIGNMENT WITH THE RWY. HE BANKED TO THE LEFT AND IN HIS WORDS 'THE AIRPLANE QUIT FLYING'. THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH THE ARPT SURFACE TO THE LEFT OF THE RUNWAY AND CAME TO A STOP.
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: commercial pilot, private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 4,066 hours in all; 240 in this make and model; 39 in the last 90 days; 3,445 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,594 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 1, 1988; 3 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 5,990 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSIO-520N (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Lincolnton NC at 4:48 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 23, 4,800 ft by 100 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 050° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 1,500 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 45°F (7°C), dew point 36°F (2°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 | |||
| Passengers | 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.
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.