Amateur-built M1 accident near Wadesboro, North Carolina, August 7, 1993
On August 7, 1993 at about 5:45 pm local time, a amateur-built M1, registered CFYSJ, was substantially damaged in an accident near Wadesboro, North Carolina. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S INTENTIONAL FLIGHT INTO IMC WITHOUT THE PROPER INSTRUMENTATION, WHICH RESULTED IN THE PILOT'S LOSS OF AIRCRAFT CONTROL, AND IN FLIGHT BREAKUP OF THE AIRPLANE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 7, 1993 · about 5:45 pm local time
- Place
- Wadesboro, North Carolina · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built M1
- Registration
- CFYSJ · no longer on the register · serial 517
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WITNESSES HEARD THE SOUND OF A DIVING AIRPLANE, THEN OBSERVED A FRAGMENTED AIRPLANE FALLING OUT OF THE CLOUDS AND CONTINUING IN A NOSE-LOW ATTITUDE UNTIL IMPACT WITH TERRAIN. THE CANADIAN REGISTERED HOMEBUILT PLANE HAD BEEN PURCHASED BY THE PILOT TWO DAYS BEFORE THE ACCIDENT. THE PILOT RECEIVED A WEATHER BRIEFING FROM RALEIGH AUTOMATED FLIGHT SERVICE STATION THE DAY OF THE ACCIDENT WHICH CALLED FOR INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS ALONG THE PROPOSED ROUTE OF FLIGHT. OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPTS FROM THE TELEPHONE CONVERSATION BETWEEN THE PILOT AND FLIGHT SERVICE CONTAIN STATEMENTS MADE BY THE PILOT ACKNOWLEDGING THE FACT THAT THE AIRPLANE DID NOT HAVE THE PROPER INSTRUMENTATION FOR FLIGHT INTO IMC CONDITIONS, BUT THAT HE PLANNED TO ATTEMPT THE FLIGHT ANYWAY.
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: airline transport pilot, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,663 hours in all; 3 in this make and model; 16 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days; 72 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 223 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 9, 1992; 6 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 948 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental C-85-12F (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 5W8 Siler City NC at 4:45 pm
- Destination: CRG Jacksonville FL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 080° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 8 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 3,400 ft; scat at 1,300 ft
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 66°F (19°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:52 pm from CLT, 50 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.