Piper PA32-300 accident near Hickory, North Carolina, February 20, 1992
On February 20, 1992 at about 9:00 pm local time, a Piper PA32-300, registered N332DD, was substantially damaged in an accident near Hickory, North Carolina (Hickory Regional airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 20, 1992 · about 9:00 pm local time
- Place
- Hickory, North Carolina · Hickory Regional
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA32-300 · all PA32-300s on the register
- Registration
- N332DD · no longer on the register · serial 32-7840072
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE ON FINAL APPROACH FOR A VISUAL LANDING, THE PILOT REPORTED AN UNSPECIFIED PROBLEM TO THE FLIGHT SERVICE STATION AND ELECTED TO GO AROUND. THE AIRPLANE CRASHED 300 FEET SHORT OF THE RUNWAY ON THE SECOND APPROACH. EXAMINATION OF THE ACCIDENT SITE DISCLOSED THAT THE NOSE WHEEL TOUCHED DOWN FIRST FOLLOWED BY THE MAINS AND THE SEPARATION OF THE NOSE WHEEL ASSEMBLY. THE EXAMINATION ALSO REVEALED THAT 3 GALLONS OF FUEL WAS IN THE FUEL TANKS. SUBSEQUENT INTERVIEWS WITH THE PILOT DISCLOSED THAT THE ENGINE WAS OPERATING THROUGHOUT THE SEQUENCE OF EVENTS, INCLUDING THE FINAL TOUCHDOWN. NO MECHANICAL PROBLEMS WERE DISCOVERED DURING POST-CRASH EXAMINATION OF THE AIRFRAME.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,027 hours in all; 500 in this make and model; 42 in the last 90 days; 20 in the last 30 days; 950 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,845 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 6, 1991; 40 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,400 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540-K1G5 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MRN Morganton NC at 8:50 pm
- Destination: HKY
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 24, 6,000 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 260° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 55°F (13°C), dew point 27°F (-3°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:50 pm from HKY, 1 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.