Boeing E75 (PT-13D) accident near Jacksonville, North Carolina, May 30, 1989
On May 30, 1989, a Boeing E75 (PT-13D), registered N5325N, was destroyed in an accident near Jacksonville, North Carolina (Wings Aloft airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT ENCOUNTERED AN ACCELERATED STALL DURING AN ABRUPT MANEUVER, LOST CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE AND DID NOT HAVE SUFFICIENT ALTITUDE TO RECOVER FROM THE ENSUING SPIN PRIOR TO COLLIDING WITH THE GROUND.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 30, 1989
- Place
- Jacksonville, North Carolina · Wings Aloft · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Boeing E75 (PT-13D) E-75 (PT-1 · all E75 (PT-13D)s on the register
- Registration
- N5325N · registry record · serial 75-5989
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT WAS REPORTED TO HAVE MADE A LOW PASS DOWN RUNWAY 09 AT THE PRIVATE AIRSTRIP WHERE HE NORMALLY DID HIS FLYING. AFTER PASSING THE END OF THE RUNWAY, THE AIRPLANE WAS OBSERVED TO PULL UP STEEPLY AS IF TO ENTER A LOOP, TURN 180 DEGREES AND FLY INTO THE GROUND. A FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR OBSERVING THE AIRPLANE STATED THAT 'THE AIRPLANE WENT INTO AN ACCELERATED STALL AND SPUN INTO THE GROUND'. NO EVIDENCE OF A MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION OR IN FLIGHT FAILURE WAS FOUND DURING THE EXAMINATION OF THE WRECKAGE. THE PILOT SUCCUMBED TO INJURIES ABOUT 14 HOURS AFTER THE CRASH.
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: 1,225 hours in all; 289 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rear
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 15, 1988; 66 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,950 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental W-670-6A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: NC61
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 9, 2,300 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 130° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 25,000 ft; scat at 3,000 ft
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:10 am from NKT, 25 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.