Piper PA-28-140 accident near Greensboro, North Carolina, August 25, 1992
On August 25, 1992 at about 4:00 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-140, registered N9749W, was substantially damaged in an accident near Greensboro, North Carolina (Southeast Greensboro airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT IN COMMAND TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE, AND HIS IMPROPER USE OF THE RUDDER DURING A GO-AROUND.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 25, 1992 · about 4:00 pm local time
- Place
- Greensboro, North Carolina · Southeast Greensboro
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-140 · all PA-28-140s on the register
- Registration
- N9749W · no longer on the register · serial 28-23232
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE STUDENT PILOT WAS RETURNING TO THE DEPARTURE AIRFIELD FOLLOWING HIS INITIAL SOLO, CROSS COUNTRY, INSTRUCTIONAL FLIGHT. ACCORDING TO HIM, DURING LANDING HE FLARED THE AIRPLANE TOO HIGH ABOVE THE RUNWAY & BEGAN A GO AROUND. HE STATED THAT THE RATE OF CLIMB WAS INSUFFICIENT & THE AIRPLANE WAS DRIFTING LEFT. THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH THE ROOF OF THE FIXED BASE OPERATOR'S BUILDING WITH THE LEFT WING, SPUN 180 DEGREES, & CAME TO REST, UPRIGHT, ON ITS WHEELS.
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: student
- Flight time: 35 hours in all; 2 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, January 2, 2000
- Maximum gross weight: 2,150 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 45J Rockingham NC at 3:00 pm
- Destination: 3A4
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 17, 3,063 ft by 30 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 280° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 8 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 66°F (19°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:50 pm from GSO, 15 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.