Piper PA-32R-300 accident near Boone, North Carolina, July 23, 1991
On July 23, 1991 at about 2:15 pm local time, a Piper PA-32R-300, registered N75173, was substantially damaged in an accident near Boone, North Carolina (Boone airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 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 FOLLOW THE MANUFACTURER'S PROCEDURES RELATED TO TAKEOFF PERFORMANCE. FACTORS IN THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE, THE HIGH OBSTRUCTIONS, AND THE PILOT'S LACK OF EXPEREINCE WITH TAKEOFF OPERATIONS AT HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 23, 1991 · about 2:15 pm local time
- Place
- Boone, North Carolina · Boone · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-32R-300 · all PA-32R-300s on the register
- Registration
- N75173 · no longer on the register · serial 32R-7680275
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PRIVATE PILOT WAS PLANNING A FLIGHT FROM AN AIRSTRIP LOCATED IN A MOUNTAINOUS RESORT AREA. HE COMPUTED THE DENSITY ALTITUDE (D.A.) TO BE 5,800 FEET, AND THE TAKEOFF GROSS WEIGHT WAS 95 POUNDS UNDER MAX GROSS TAKEOFF WEIGHT. AFTER TAKEOFF, CLIMB CAPABILITY STAGNATED AND THE PILOT WAS UNABLE TO CLEAR PINE TREES LOCATED PAST THE DEPARTURE END, HE ATTEMPTED TO FLY AROUND THEM. THE AIRPLANE STALLED, COLLIDED WITH PINE TREES, AND THEN CRASHED ONTO GOLF COURSE. THE PILOT HAD NO EXPERIENCE FLYING INTO OR OUT OF HIGH ATLITUDE AIRPORTS. WHEN ASKED IF HE HAD LEANED THE MIXTURE FOR OPTIMUM PERFORMANCE UNDER HIGH D.A. CONDITIONS, HE SAID THAT HE WAS UNAWARE OF SUCH A PROCEDURE. THE PILOT PLANNED FOR A BEST CLIMB SPEED OF 70 KTS; HOWEVER, THE OPERATING HANDBOOK RECOMMENDED 87 KNOTS WHEN OBSTACLE CLEARANCE WAS A FACTOR.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 434 hours in all; 45 in this make and model; 22 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 299 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,647 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 27, 1991
- Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540-K1A5D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: HAO Hamilton OH
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 31, 2,700 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 72°F (22°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:10 pm from HKY, 30 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
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.