Piper PA-24-250 accident near Concord, North Carolina, July 27, 1990
On July 27, 1990 at about 1:15 pm local time, a Piper PA-24-250, registered N5278P, was substantially damaged in an accident near Concord, North Carolina (Goodnight'S airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PLANNING AND PREPARATION, IN THAT HE DID NOT FULLY CONSIDER THE EFFECTS OF HIGH OBSTRUCTIONS AND A POOR RUNWAY SURFACE CONDITION.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 27, 1990 · about 1:15 pm local time
- Place
- Concord, North Carolina · Goodnight'S · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-24-250 · all PA-24-250s on the register
- Registration
- N5278P · registry record · serial 24-317
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT WAS ON TAKEOFF ROLL AND DETERMINED THAT HE COULD NOT CLIMB ABOVE TREES LOCATED OFF THE DEPARTURE END OF THE RUNWAY. HE ABORTED THE TAKEOFF AND COULD NOT BRING THE AIRPLANE TO A STOP IN THE REMAINING RUNWAY DISTANCE. THE AIRPLANE ENTERED HIGH WEEDS AND CONTACTED A DITCH WHICH WAS NOT VISIBLE FROM THE RUNWAY. THE DEPARTURE END OF THE RUNWAY WAS DIRT, BARE OF GRASS FROM FREQUENT LANDINGS. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE WAS ACCUSTOMED TO MAKING TAKEOFFS IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION, WHERE THE DEPARTURE END OBSTRUCTIONS WERE NOT AS HIGH. THE PILOT ALSO REPORTED THAT HE WAS ABOUT 65 POUNDS UNDER MAXIMUM GROSS WEIGHT AT TAKEOFF. HE REPORTED NO MECHANICAL DIFFICULTIES WITH THE AIRPLANE.
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: 558 hours in all; 271 in this make and model; 13 in the last 90 days; 6 in the last 30 days; 454 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,000 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-540-A1C5 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: OSH Oshkosh WI
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 33, 2,640 ft by 40 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 330° at 15 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
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.