Piper J-5A accident near Raeford, North Carolina, September 8, 1994
On September 8, 1994 at about 7:29 pm local time, a Piper J-5A, registered N31172, was destroyed in an accident near Raeford, North Carolina. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed and 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S OSTENTATIOUS DISPLAY WHICH RESULTED IN A LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 8, 1994 · about 7:29 pm local time
- Place
- Raeford, North Carolina · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed and 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper J-5A · all J-5As on the register
- Registration
- N31172 · no longer on the register · serial 5-326
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
ACCORDING TO THE PASSENGER, ABOUT FIFTEEN MINUTES INTO THE PLEASURE FLIGHT, THE PILOT APPROACHED A PRIVATE AIRSTRIP FLYING 35 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND. AS THEY APPROACHED THE STRIP THE AIRPLANE PASSED OVER A HIGHWAY AND A TRACTOR TRAILER CROSSED DIRECTLY BELOW THE AIRPLANE. AT THIS POINT, THE PILOT EXECUTED A STEEP CLIMBING TURN. THE AIRPLANE STALLED AND CRASHED IN A NOSE LOW ATTITUDE, AND BURNED. NO MECHANICAL PROBLEM WAS FOUND WITH THE AIRPLANE.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,000 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 29, 1994
- Maximum gross weight: 1,450 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental C-85 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: NONE at 10:30 pm
- Destination: NONE NC
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 59°F (15°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:46 pm from FAY, 25 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.