Piper PA-28-235 accident near Liberty, North Carolina, February 26, 1989
On February 26, 1989 at about 4:15 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-235, registered N56600, was substantially damaged in an accident near Liberty, North Carolina (Lake Juno airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S INADVERTENT LANDING AT THE WRONG AIRPORT, CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE FAILURE OF THE AIRPORT PERSONNEL TO NOTIFY THE FAA OF THE EXISTANCE OF THE AIRPORT SO IT COULD BE PROPERLY DESIGNATED ON AVIATION CHARTS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 26, 1989 · about 4:15 pm local time
- Place
- Liberty, North Carolina · Lake Juno · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-235 · all PA-28-235s on the register
- Registration
- N56600 · registry record · serial 28-7410014
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE AIRPLANE OVERRAN THE RWY DURING ROLLOUT. THE PLT REPORTED THAT HE THOUGHT HE WAS LANDING AT HIS INTENDED DESTINATION ARPT. WHICH HAD A 3,000 FT LONG BY 40 FT WIDE RWY. HE LANDED INSTEAD AT A PRIVATE, PAVED AIRSTRIP LOCATED ABOUT 1 TO 2 MILES FROM THE DESTINATION ARPT. THE AIRSTRIP RWY WAS ORIENTED THE SAME DIRECTION AS THE DESTINATION ARPT, BUT WAS ONLY 1,000 FT LONG BY 20 FT WIDE. THE PLT REPORTED THAT HE HAD NOT FLOWN IN THE AREA BEFORE. INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE FAA HAD NO RECORD OF THE AIRSTRIP, AND THAT IT WAS NOT NOTED ON CHARTS OR IN THE ARPT/FACILITY DIRECTORY. A REPRESENTATIVE OF THE ARPT OWNER REPORTED THAT THE OWNER WAS NOT AWARE OF ANY REQUIREMENT TO NOTIFY THE FAA OF THE ARPT. THE AIRSTRIP WAS ABOUT 7 YRS OLD. 14CFR157 (FAR PART 157) REQUIRES THAT ANY PERSON INTENDING TO CONSTRUCT OR ESTABLISH A NEW AIRPORT NOTIFY THE FAA OF THEIR INTENT.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 304 hours in all; 161 in this make and model; 213 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,677 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 14, 1988; 157 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,000 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-540-B4B5 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: INT Winston-Salem NC at 3:45 pm
- Destination: 2A5 Liberty NC
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 20, 1,000 ft by 20 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 230° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 4,500 ft
- Temperature: 55°F (13°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.