Piper PA-22-150 accident near Harrisburg, North Carolina, September 1, 1992
On September 1, 1992 at about 4:40 pm local time, a Piper PA-22-150, registered N7317D, was substantially damaged in an accident near Harrisburg, North Carolina. It was an other work-use 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 PASSENGER'S INADVERTENT INTERFERENCE WITH THE FLIGHT CONTROLS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 1, 1992 · about 4:40 pm local time
- Place
- Harrisburg, North Carolina · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-22-150 · all PA-22-150s on the register
- Registration
- N7317D · no longer on the register · serial 22-5105
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Other work-use flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE AIRPLANE WAS BEING USED TO CONDUCT AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHY. WHILE IN CRUISE FLIGHT AT 6500 FEET, THE AIRPLANE YAWED LEFT. APPLICATION OF RIGHT RUDDER WAS NOT FULLY EFFECTIVE, & WHEN RELEASED THE AIRPLANE YAWED FURTHER LEFT. AILERON CONTROL WAS SUFFICIENT TO MAKE A FORCED LANDING IN A FIELD. EXAMINATION OF THE FLIGHT CONTROL SYSTEM & THE NOSE WHEEL STEERING FAILED TO REVEAL ANY ANOMALIES. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE BELIEVED THAT THE PASSENGER, WHO WAS CONDUCTING THE PHOTOGRAPHY, HAD INADVERTENTLY INTERFERED WITH THE FLIGHT CONTROLS.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,800 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,000 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 2, 2000; 50 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,950 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-A1A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: W44 Ashboro NC at 2:30 pm
- Destination: 3A4 Greensboro NC
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 170° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 63°F (17°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:50 pm from CLT, 15 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.