Piper PA-28-180 accident near Winston-Salem, North Carolina, April 2, 1994
On April 2, 1994 at about 11:47 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-180, registered N4298Y, was substantially damaged in an accident near Winston-Salem, North Carolina. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to place the aircraft fuel selector to the tank with fuel remaining.
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 11:47 pm local time
- Place
- Winston-Salem, North Carolina · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-180 · all PA-28-180s on the register
- Registration
- N4298Y · registry record · serial 8390048
- 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 WHILE IN CRUISE FLIGHT, THE AIRCRAFT ENGINE STOPPED PRODUCING POWER. HE ATTEMPTED A FORCED LANDING, AND DURING THE LANDING ROLL, THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK A BUILDING. INSPECTION OF THE AIRCRAFT REVEALED THAT THE FUEL SELECTOR WAS SELECTED TO THE RIGHT FUEL TANK. THE RIGHT FUEL TANK HAD ONE PINT OF FUEL REMAINING, AND THE LEFT TANK HAD TEN GALLONS OF FUEL REMAINING. A TEST RUN OF THE AIRCRAFT ENGINE REVEALED THAT THE ENGINE OPERATED NORMALLY AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE AIRCRAFT FUEL GAUGES OPERATED NORMALLY.
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: 98 hours in all; 3 in this make and model; 9 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days; 67 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,865 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 18, 1994; 47 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,560 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A4M (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: NC28 Walnut Grove NC at 10:15 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 220° at 6 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, 15 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.