Piper PA-12 accident near Southport, North Carolina, July 25, 1992
On July 25, 1992, a Piper PA-12, registered N7712H, was substantially damaged in an accident near Southport, North Carolina (Brunswick County airport). It was an other work-use flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN CLEARANCE FROM OBSTACLES. A FACTOR WAS THE DUSK LIGHTING CONDITION.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 25, 1992
- Place
- Southport, North Carolina · Brunswick County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-12 · all PA-12s on the register
- Registration
- N7712H · registry record · serial 12-604
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Other work-use flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT & PASSENGER STATED THAT THEY HAD BEEN HIRED TO OVERFLY A WEDDING PARTY TO DROP CONFETTI & NOTES. THE DROP SITE WAS ABUT 75 FEET TO ONE SIDE OF THE EXTENDED CENTERLINE OF THE RUNWAY, & ABOUT 1/4 MILE FROM THE APPROACH THRESHOLD. AFTER OVERFLYING THE SITE, AT DUSK, & DROPPING THE CONFETTI, THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH A TREE.
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: 800 hours in all; 20 in this make and model; 150 in the last 90 days; 50 in the last 30 days; 760 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 2, 2000
- Maximum gross weight: 1,625 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-A2B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SUT
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 23, 4,000 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Wind: from 220° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 25,000 ft; scat at 3,000 ft
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 75°F (24°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:50 pm from ILM, 25 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.
Other NTSB records under N7712H the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.