Piper PA-28-180 accident near Mount Airy, North Carolina, November 28, 1993
On November 28, 1993 at about 10:00 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-180, registered N7950W, was substantially damaged in an accident near Mount Airy, North Carolina (Mount Airy/Surry County airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed and 2 people were seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S IMPROPER DECISION TO LAND DOWNWIND, FAILURE TO CONTROL THE AIRCRAFT ON THE GROUND, AND HIS DECISION TO ABORT THE LANDING AFTER LOSS OF CONTROL AND DAMAGE TO THE AIRCRAFT ON THE GROUND. A FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT WAS THE GUSTY TAIL WIND AT THE TIME OF LANDING.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 28, 1993 · about 10:00 pm local time
- Place
- Mount Airy, North Carolina · Mount Airy/Surry County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed and 2 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-180 · all PA-28-180s on the register
- Registration
- N7950W · no longer on the register · serial 28-1996
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT MADE A DOWNWIND LANDING AND THE AIRCRAFT VEERED OFF THE RUNWAY TO THE RIGHT. THERE WERE 10 HORIZONTAL SLASH MARKS, MADE IN THE SOD BY THE AIRCRAFT PROPELLER, LOCATED 20 FEET OFF THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY. THE AIRCRAFT THEN IMPACTED A ROCK WALL AT THE BOTTOM OF A DRAINAGE DITCH LOCATED BETWEEN THE TAXIWAY AND THE RUNWAY, WHERE THE RIGHT MAIN LANDING GEAR WAS SEPARATED FROM THE AIRCRAFT. THE PILOT THEN DECIDED TO ABORT THE LANDING, ADDED POWER, AND MANAGED TO BECOME AIRBORNE. THE AIRCRAFT WAS OBSERVED TO BE TURNING TO THE LEFT, AND IN A NOSE DOWN ATTITUDE AS IT DISAPPEARED FROM VIEW. THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED A RESIDENCE APPROXIMATELY 1/2 MILE EAST OF THE RUNWAY.
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: 177 hours in all; 155 in this make and model; 8 in the last 90 days; 1 in the last 30 days; 125 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 2,175 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A3A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: RUQ Salisbury NC at 9:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 3,500 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 310° at 10 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 50°F (10°C), dew point 12°F (-11°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:56 pm from INT, 25 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 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.