Piper PA28-161 accident near Rutherfordton, North Carolina, April 23, 1992
On April 23, 1992 at about 2:50 pm local time, a Piper PA28-161, registered N6336C, was substantially damaged in an accident near Rutherfordton, North Carolina (Clutes Airport). It was a personal 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 MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL DURING A LANDING ROLL WHICH RESULTED IN A COLLISION WITH TREES.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 23, 1992 · about 2:50 pm local time
- Place
- Rutherfordton, North Carolina · Clutes Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA28-161 · all PA28-161s on the register
- Registration
- N6336C · registry record · serial 28-7816410
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
N6336C SKIDDED OFF THE LEFT SIDE OF THE SOD STRIP DURING THE LANDING ROLL. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THE RIGHT BRAKE FAILED TO RESPOND AND DIRECTIONAL CONTROL WAS LOST. THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH TREES ADJACENT TO THE RUNWAY AREA. EXAMINATION OF THE WRECKAGE FAILED TO DISCLOSE A MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION OR FAILURE. THE RIGHT BRAKE ASSEMBLY ALSO OPERATED NORMALLY AT THE ACCIDENT SITE.
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: 290 hours in all; 52 in this make and model; 5 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days; 142 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 2, 2000
- Maximum gross weight: 2,100 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A4A (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Chapel Hill Flying Club
The flight
- Departed from: W52 Chapel Hill NC at 1:35 pm
- Destination: 79A Rutherfordton NC
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 26, 2,300 ft by 175 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:00 pm from HKY, 20 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.