Piper PA-22-160 accident near China Grove, North Carolina, September 24, 1989
On September 24, 1989 at about 10:30 pm local time, a Piper PA-22-160, registered N9400D, was substantially damaged in an accident near China Grove, North Carolina (Brown airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
PILOT'S LOSS OF CONTROL DURING THE FINAL APPROACH IN THAT HE FAILED TO ESTABLISH A PROPER GLIDEPATH. THE AIRPLANE LANDED SHORT OF THE RUNWAY. DURING THE ATTEMPTED GO-AROUND HIS IMPROPER USE OF RUDDER AND AILERON, FOLLOWING THE APPLICATION OF FULL POWER, RESULTED IN A COLLISION WITH TREES TO THE LEFT OF THE RUNWAY.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 24, 1989 · about 10:30 pm local time
- Place
- China Grove, North Carolina · Brown · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-22-160 · all PA-22-160s on the register
- Registration
- N9400D · no longer on the register · serial 22-6372
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH TREES DURING INITIAL CLIMB, FOLLOWING AN ABORTED LANDING. THE PLT REPORTED THE FOLLOWING: THE AIRPLANE ENCOUNTERED A 'WIND SHIFT' DURING FINAL APPROACH, AS IT CAME OVER AN OPEN FIELD AFTER CROSSING TREES. THE AIRPLANE THEN DROPPED 'REAL FAST', HIT THE GROUND A FEW FEET SHORT OF THE RWY, AND BOUNCED BACK INTO THE AIR. FULL POWER WAS APPLIED, AND AN ATTEMPT WAS MADE TO GO AROUND; THE AIRPLANE VEERED TO THE LEFT AND COLLIDED WITH TREES ADJACENT TO THE RWY.
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: 200 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 11 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 2,000 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 5A1 Marion VA at 9:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 9, 1,300 ft by 200 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 070° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 25,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 39°F (4°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:53 pm from GSO, 39 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.