Piper PA-12 accident near Smithfield, North Carolina, February 19, 1994
On February 19, 1994 at about 3:00 pm local time, a Piper PA-12, registered N2964M, was substantially damaged in an accident near Smithfield, North Carolina (Middle Creek Farm airport). It was a personal 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 ADEQUATE CLEARANCE FROM POWER LINES. FACTORS WERE THE UNMARKED POWER LINES LOCATED UNDER THE FINAL APPROACH PATH, AND THE SUN GLARE THAT EXISTED AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 19, 1994 · about 3:00 pm local time
- Place
- Smithfield, North Carolina · Middle Creek Farm · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-12 · all PA-12s on the register
- Registration
- N2964M · registry record · serial 12-1358
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING THE FINAL APPROACH TO A PRIVATE, GRASS AIRSTRIP, THE PILOT OBSERVED TWO UTILITY POLES TO THE LEFT OF THE FINAL APPROACH PATH, BUT THOUGHT HE WAS ABOVE THEM. HE ALSO REPORTED THAT THE APPROACH WAS MADE DIRECTLY INTO THE SUN. WHILE ON FINAL, THE AIRPLANE CONTACTED A POWER LINE. AIRCRAFT CONTROL WAS LOST, AND THE AIRCRAFT COLLIDED WITH THE GROUND ABOUT 200 FEET SHORT OF THE GRASS RUNWAY. THE FAA INSPECTOR WHO VISITED THE ACCIDENT SITE REPORTED THAT THE POWER LINES WERE NOT MARKED WITH ANY TYPE OF MATERIAL WHICH WOULD DRAW INCREASED ATTENTION TO THEIR LOCATION.
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: 394 hours in all; 48 in this make and model; 10 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days; 332 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,542 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 9, 1993; 23 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,750 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: DPL Kenansville NC at 2:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 4, 1,600 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 060° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 4,300 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:50 pm from RDU, 28 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.