Piper PA-22-160 accident near Greensboro, North Carolina, May 23, 1990
On May 23, 1990 at about 11:15 pm local time, a Piper PA-22-160, registered N9657D, was substantially damaged in an accident near Greensboro, North Carolina. 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
THE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 23, 1990 · about 11:15 pm local time
- Place
- Greensboro, North Carolina
- 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
- N9657D · no longer on the register · serial 22-6573
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT REPORTED THAT AFTER TAKEOFF AT ABOUT 800 FEET THE ENGINE BEGAN TO SPUTTER AND QUIT. AN ATTEMPT WAS MADE TO RETURN TO THE AIRPORT BUT A FORCED LANDING WAS REQUIRED SHORT OF THE RUNWAY. DURING THE GROUND ROLL THE AIRPLANE HIT A DITCH WHICH RESULTED IN SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE. SUBSEQUENT EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE & INVESTIGATION DID NOT DISCLOSE ANY REASON FOR THE ENGINE MALFUNCTION.
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: 3,752 hours in all; 142 in this make and model; 16 in the last 90 days; 13 in the last 30 days; 3,752 as pilot in command; 1,000 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,726 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 1, 1990; 3 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,000 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-B2A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 090° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:50 pm from GSO, 10 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.