Boeing E75 accident near Salisbury, North Carolina, January 5, 1989
On January 5, 1989 at about 7:30 pm local time, a Boeing E75, registered N52124, was substantially damaged in an accident near Salisbury, North Carolina (Private airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
IMPROPER USE OF CARBURETOR HEAT BY THE PILOT, WHICH RESULTED IN CARBURETOR ICE. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: CARBURETOR ICING CONDITIONS AND OBSTRUCTION(S)/UTILITY POLE NEAR THE DEPARTURE END OF THE RUNWAY.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 5, 1989 · about 7:30 pm local time
- Place
- Salisbury, North Carolina · Private · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Boeing E75 · all E75s on the register
- Registration
- N52124 · no longer on the register · serial 75-8560
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING TAKEOFF FM A TOUCH-&-GO, THE ENG SPUTTERED, EMITTED BLACK SMOKE FM THE EXHAUST & HAD A PARTIAL PWR LOSS. THE PLT RPRTD THE ACFT WAS TOO FAR DOWN THE RWY TO ABORT, SO HE CONTD THE TAKEOFF. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE ACFT HIT A POLE NEAR THE DEP END OF THE RWY & WAS LANDED IN A FIELD. HARD BRAKING WAS USE TO AVOID OBJECTS WHILE LNDG & THE ACFT NOSED OVR. INV REVEALED A MIX OF AVGAS & AUTOGAS WAS USED. THE PLT SAID HE CLEARED THE ENG ON BASE LEG & THAT CARB HEAT WAS OFF MOMENTARILY WHEN HE APPLIED PWR FOR A GO-AROUND. SOOT WAS FND ON THE #3 & #5 SPARK PLUGS. ABT 60 MI WEST AT HICKORY, NC, THE 1400 EST TEMP & DEW POINT WERE 45 & 21 DEG. ACCORDING TO CARB ICE CHARTS, CONDITIONS WERE CONDUCIVE FOR CARB ICE WITH THE ENG OPERG AT GLIDE PWR. AN STC HAD BEEN DEVELOPED FOR USE OF AUTO FUEL IN W-670-6N ENGS.
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: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 5,770 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rear
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 2,717 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental W-670-6N (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 36, 1,800 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 200° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 45°F (7°C), dew point 21°F (-6°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:00 pm from HKY, 60 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| 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.