Piper PA-28-180 accident near Goldsboro, North Carolina, September 9, 1990
On September 9, 1990 at about 6:30 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-180, registered N6341J, was substantially damaged in an accident near Goldsboro, North Carolina (Cox Grantham airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE WHICH RESULTED IN AN INADVERTENT STALL/SPIN. A FACTOR RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WAS: CONTROL INTERFERENCE BY THE PASSENGER.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 9, 1990 · about 6:30 pm local time
- Place
- Goldsboro, North Carolina · Cox Grantham · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-180 · all PA-28-180s on the register
- Registration
- N6341J · registry record · serial 28-4849
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WITNESSES REPORTED HEARING A POWER REDUCTION DURING THE INITIAL CLIMB AFTER TAKEOFF. THEY SAW THE AIRCRAFT ENTER A STEEP PITCH-UP FOLLOWED BY A LEFT ROLL & SPIN ENTRY. SUBSEQUENTLY IT IMPACTED IN A STEEP NOSE DOWN & LEFT WING DOWN ATTITUDE. THE ENGINE WAS EXAMINED. NO DISCREPANCIES WERE FOUND THAT WOULD PRECLUDE ITS OPERATION. THE PASSENGER INDICATED THAT HE MAY HAVE RETARDED THE THROTTLE. THERE WAS CONTINUITY OF THE FLIGHT CONTROL SYSTEM.
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
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,175 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A3A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 23
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 120° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 3,000 ft; scat at 2,000 ft
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 73°F (23°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:55 pm from GSB, 13 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number ATL90LA169.