Piper PA-28-140 accident near Poplar Branch, North Carolina, July 20, 1993
On July 20, 1993 at about 10:00 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-140, registered N5764W, was substantially damaged in an accident near Poplar Branch, North Carolina (Pine Island Club 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 LANDING.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 20, 1993 · about 10:00 pm local time
- Place
- Poplar Branch, North Carolina · Pine Island Club Airport
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-140 · all PA-28-140s on the register
- Registration
- N5764W · no longer on the register · serial 28-1546
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
ACCORDING TO THE PILOT, HE PLANNED THE FLIGHT WITH WHAT HE BELIEVED TO HAVE BEEN SUFFICIENT FUEL. ENROUTE TO THE DESTINATION AIRPORT, THE PILOT ENCOUNTERED CLOUD CONDITIONS WHICH FORCED HIM TO DEVIATE FROM THE ORIGINAL PLANNED ROUTE. AFTER SEVERAL MINUTES OF SEARCHING FOR A SUITABLE LANDING AREA, THE PILOT LOCATED PINE ISLAND AIRPORT. THE AIRPLANE TOUCHED DOWN ON THE NORTH RUNWAY, VEERED OFF THE SIDE OF THE RUNWAY, AND COLLIDED WITH A FENCE. EXAMINATION OF THE AIRPLANE DISCLOSED THERE WAS NO FUEL IN THE FUEL TANKS. THE EXAMINATION ALSO FAILED TO DISCLOSE A MECHANICAL PROBLEM. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THE ENGINE CONTINUED TO OPERATE THROUGHOUT SEQUENCE OF EVENTS.
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
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 183 hours in all; 68 in this make and model; 52 in the last 90 days; 17 in the last 30 days; 183 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,866 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 14, 1992; 42 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,150 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-EZ (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: TDR Statesboro GA at 6:20 pm
- Destination: ECG Elizabeth City NC
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0, 2,900 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 050° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 4 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 2,000 ft; not recorded at 2,000 ft
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:00 pm from MQI, 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.
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.