Piper PA-18 accident near Southport, North Carolina, August 2, 1990
On August 2, 1990 at about 2:30 pm local time, a Piper PA-18, registered N9239T, was destroyed in an accident near Southport, North Carolina (Brunswick County airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE ENTRY INTO A FLAT SPIN WHICH PRECLUDED RECOVERY BY THE PILOT. THE REASON FOR THE SPIN BECOMING FLAT COULD NOT BE DETERMINED.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 2, 1990 · about 2:30 pm local time
- Place
- Southport, North Carolina · Brunswick County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-18 · all PA-18s on the register
- Registration
- N9239T · no longer on the register · serial 18-2253
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AFTER ENTERING AN INTENTIONAL SPIN MANEUVER, WITNESSES REPORTED THAT THE SPIN IMMEDIATELY BECAME 'FLAT'. THE SPIN CONTINUED FOR ABOUT 7 TO 8 TURNS PRIOR TO GROUND IMPACT. REPORTEDLY, THE NOSE DROPPED SLIGHTLY DURING THE LAST TURN OF THE SPIN. WEIGHT AND BALANCE CALCULATIONS INDICATE THAT THE AIRCRAFT SHOULD HAVE BEEN INSIDE UTILITY CATEGORY LIMITATIONS DURING THE ACCIDENT FLIGHT. THE REASON FOR THE SPIN BECOMING FLAT, AND THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO RECOVER CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE WAS NOT DETERMINED.
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, flight instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 24,090 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, July 13, 1990
- Maximum gross weight: 1,500 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 080° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 1,700 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 73°F (23°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:50 pm from ILM, 23 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.