Wsk PZL-104 accident near Smithfield, North Carolina, September 6, 1990
On September 6, 1990 at about 5:00 pm local time, a Wsk PZL-104, registered N7169Z, was destroyed in an accident near Smithfield, North Carolina (Johnson County airport). It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO PROPERLY PREFLIGHT FUEL REQUIREMENTS FOR THE ADDITIONAL LANDING. THE ENGINE QUIT DUE TO FUEL EXHAUSTION.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 6, 1990 · about 5:00 pm local time
- Place
- Smithfield, North Carolina · Johnson County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Wsk PZL-104
- Registration
- N7169Z · registry record · serial CF 20900890
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AFTER SEVERAL LANDINGS, THE PILOT DECIDED TO CONTINUE THE FLIGHT WITH ADDITIONAL LANDINGS. HOWEVER, BEFORE THE TAKEOFF, THEY REALIZED THAT FUEL WAS CRITICAL, SO THEY ELECTED TO FLY A TIGHT TRAFFIC PATTERN. THE ENGINE QUIT ON DOWNWIND. THE PILOT ATTEMPTED A FORCED LANDING TO THE RUNWAY, BUT COLLIDED WITH TREES SHORT OF THE RUNWAY. THE PILOT FAILED TO PLAN FUEL REQUIREMENTS FOR THIS SERIES OF LANDINGS.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,292 hours in all; 70 in this make and model; 2,150 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 11 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 23, 1990; 11 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,866 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Pzl-Okecie AII4RA (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 21, 4,900 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 350° at 7 knots, gusting 1
- Visibility: 4 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 91°F (33°C), dew point 70°F (21°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:00 pm from RDU, 35 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.