Piper PA-28-161 accident near Lexington, North Carolina, October 23, 1993
On October 23, 1993 at about 6:15 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-161, registered N9778C, was substantially damaged in an accident near Lexington, North Carolina (Lexington Municipal airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL DURING A CROSSWIND LANDING. A FACTOR WAS THE CROSSWIND CONDITION.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 23, 1993 · about 6:15 pm local time
- Place
- Lexington, North Carolina · Lexington Municipal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-161 · all PA-28-161s on the register
- Registration
- N9778C · no longer on the register · serial 28-7816528
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE LANDED ON RUNWAY 8, AND THAT AFTER A FEW FEET OF LANDING ROLL, A GUST OF WIND LIFTED THE AIRPLANE AND PUSHED IT OFF THE RUNWAY TO THE LEFT. HOWEVER, THE PILOT REPORTED THE WIND WAS FROM 060 DEGREES AT 8 KNOTS. THE AIRPLANE TOUCHED DOWN AGAIN AT THE LEFT EDGE OF THE RUNWAY. IT DEPARTED THE RUNWAY, HIT A BERM, AND BECAME AIRBORNE AGAIN. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE AIRPLANE STRUCK A HANGAR.
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
- Flight time: 53 hours in all; 53 in this make and model; 20 in the last 90 days; 7 in the last 30 days; 18 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,656 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 10, 1993
- Maximum gross weight: 2,325 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-D36 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: W77 Sanford NC at 5:30 pm
- Destination: EXX
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 8, 3,295 ft by 65 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 090° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 36°F (2°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:00 pm from GSO, 25 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.
Other NTSB records under N9778C the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.