Piper PA-28-140 accident near Roxboro, North Carolina, September 10, 1993
On September 10, 1993 at about 3:45 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-140, registered N410SF, was substantially damaged in an accident near Roxboro, North Carolina (Person County airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE COMPENSATION FOR THE WIND CONDITIONS AT THE TIME OF THE TAKEOFF. FACTORS WERE THE WIND GUSTS AND WINDSHEAR EXISTING AT THE AIRPORT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 10, 1993 · about 3:45 pm local time
- Place
- Roxboro, North Carolina · Person County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-140 · all PA-28-140s on the register
- Registration
- N410SF · registry record · serial 28-21000
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT REPORTED THAT SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF, A WIND SHEAR WAS ENCOUNTERED. HE ELECTED TO LAND THE AIRPLANE ABOUT 4,000 FEET DOWN THE 5,000 FOOT LONG RUNWAY. THE AIRCRAFT LANDED HARD, AND STRUCTURAL DAMAGE RESULTED. THE RECORDED WEATHER DATA AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT REVEALED SURFACE WINDS VARIABLE FROM 210 TO 340 DEGREES, AT SPEEDS OF 7 KNOTS, WITH GUSTS TO 18 KNOTS.
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: 270 hours in all; 185 in this make and model; 9 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days; 205 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,383 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 18, 1992; 18 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,150 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: W95 Ocracoke NC
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 24, 5,000 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 290° at 7 knots, gusting 18
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:45 pm from TDF
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
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.