Cessna 172N accident near Gerton, North Carolina, October 31, 1994
On October 31, 1994 at about 11:56 pm local time, a Cessna 172N, registered N5338D, was destroyed in an accident near Gerton, North Carolina. It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 4 people were killed. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE WEATHER EVALUATION AND HIS INTENTIONAL VISUAL FLIGHT INTO IMC.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 31, 1994 · about 11:56 pm local time
- Place
- Gerton, North Carolina · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 4 people were killed.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172N · all 172Ns on the register
- Registration
- N5338D · no longer on the register · serial 17272527
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT RECEIVED SEVERAL VISUAL FLIGHT WEATHER BRIEFINGS BEFORE DEPARTING. AT THE CONCLUSION OF THE FIRST BRIEFING, VISUAL FLIGHT FOR THE PLANNED ROUTE WAS NOT RECOMMENDED; HOWEVER, THE PILOT ELECTED TO FLY THE PLANNED ROUTE. THREE AND ONE HALF HOURS AFTER TAKEOFF, THE PILOT LANDED AT AN AIRPORT SHORT OF HIS PLANNED DESTINATION, AND REFUELED WITH 16 GALLONS OF FUEL. MINUTES AFTER THE FLIGHT DEPARTED THE AIRPORT, THE PILOT ESTABLISHED RADIO CONTACT WITH ASHEVILLE APPROACH, AND REQUESTED RADAR VECTORS TO ASHEVILLE. THE AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLER ADVISED THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN VFR CONDITIONS. MOMENTS LATER RADIO CONTACT WAS LOST, AND THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH A MOUNTAIN RIDGE AT THE 3800 FOOT LEVEL. EXAMINATION OF THE ACCIDENT SITE REVEALED THAT THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH TREES; AIRCRAFT WRECKAGE WAS SCATTERED OVER AN AREA 135 FEET LONG. THE EXAMINATION OF THE ACCIDENT SITE REVEALED THAT THE AIRPLANE WAS DESTROYED BY IMPACT FORCES, AND A POST-IMPACT FIRE. NO MECHANICAL PROBLEMS WERE DETERMINED FROM THE WRECKAGE EXAMINATION. WEATHER REPORTS INDICATED THAT CLOUDS OBSCURED THE MOUNTAINS WHERE THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED.
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
- Flight time: 90 hours in all; 20 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,641 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, September 8, 1994; 101 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-H2AD (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
- Operator: Beaufort Aviation INC.
The flight
- Departed from: MRH Beaufort NC at 7:30 pm
- Destination: M91 Springfield TN
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 150° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 3 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 400 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 61°F (16°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
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.