Piper PA-12 accident near Supply, North Carolina, October 7, 1992
On October 7, 1992 at about 5:00 pm local time, a Piper PA-12, registered N72HW, was substantially damaged in an accident near Supply, North Carolina (None airport). It was a ferry flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PLANNING, WHICH RESULTED IN HIS INABLILTY TO ATTAIN A PROPER CLIMB RATE DURING THE TAKEOFF. FACTORS WERE THE RUNWAY CONDITIONS (SOFT, ROUGH TERRAIN, WET GRASS), THE PERIMETER TREES, AND THE TAIL WIND CONDITIONS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 7, 1992 · about 5:00 pm local time
- Place
- Supply, North Carolina · None · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-12 · all PA-12s on the register
- Registration
- N72HW · registry record · serial 12-1625
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Ferry flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PRIVATE PILOT WAS TO FERRY THE AIRCRAFT FROM A PRIVATE, GRASS FIELD TO A LOCAL AIRPORT SO THAT AN ANNUAL INSPECTION COULD BE PERFORMED. AFTER ABOUT 30 MINUTES OF GROUND OPERATION TO FAMILIARIZE HIMSELF WITH THE HANDLING CHARACTERISTICS OF THE AIRCRAFT, HE ADDED FUEL AND PREPARED FOR TAKEOFF. DURING THE TAKEOFF ROLL, HE NOTICED THAT ACCELERATION WAS NOT VERY GOOD; HOWEVER, THE ENGINE WAS RUNNING SMOOTHLY. AFTER ROTATION, HE REALIZED THAT THE AIRCRAFT WOULD NOT CLEAR PERIMETER TREES, SO HE CLOSED THE THROTTLE AND ATTEMPTED TO FLY BETWEEN THEM. THE AIRCRAFT COLLIDED WITH TREES, THEN FELL INTO AN ADJACENT WATERWAY. THE PILOT LATER REPORTED THAT THE 1,100 FOOT LONG RUNWAY CONSISTED OF WET GRASS, WITH AREAS OF SOFT SAND. ON THE TAKEOFF ROLL, HE PULLED BACK ON THE STICK TO AVOID ROUGH AREAS. HE ALSO REPORTED THAT THE PREVAILING HEAD WIND HAD SHIFTED TO A TAIL WIND.
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: 750 hours in all; 1 in this make and model; 1 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 2, 2000
- Maximum gross weight: 1,750 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: NONE at 5:00 pm
- Destination: SUT Southport NC
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 1,100 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 070° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 8,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 59°F (15°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:50 pm from ILM, 24 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number ATL93LA006.