Piper PA-24-180 accident near Boone, North Carolina, April 2, 1994
On April 2, 1994 at about 10:41 pm local time, a Piper PA-24-180, registered N5704P, was substantially damaged in an accident near Boone, North Carolina (Boone airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The excessive speed used on final approach to the short runway by the pilot, and the failure of the pilot to use the proper touchdown point on the runway for landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 2, 1994 · about 10:41 pm local time
- Place
- Boone, North Carolina · Boone · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-24-180 · all PA-24-180s on the register
- Registration
- N5704P · no longer on the register · serial 24-777
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT WAS ATTEMPTING A LANDING ON THE SHORT RUNWAY. HE STATED THAT HE USED 85 KNOTS INDICATED AIRSPEED ON FINAL APPROACH. THE AIRPLANE FLOATED DOWN THE RUNWAY, AND DID NOT TOUCH DOWN UNTIL APPROXIMATELY ONE HALF OF THE RUNWAY HAD BEEN USED. THE AIRCRAFT RAN OFF THE END OF THE RUNWAY, AND IMPACTED TREES BEFORE COMING TO REST ON A GOLF COURSE PAST THE DEPARTURE END OF RUNWAY 31.
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; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 456 hours in all; 454 in this make and model; 45 in the last 90 days; 15 in the last 30 days; 426 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,462 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 13, 1993; 80 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,550 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-360A1A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: INT Winston-Salem NC at 8:45 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 31, 2,100 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 1,000 ft
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 21°F (-6°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:45 pm from INT, 45 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.