Piper PA-31-350 accident near Burlington, North Carolina, January 13, 1995
On January 13, 1995 at about 2:15 pm local time, a Piper PA-31-350, registered N7144Z, was substantially damaged in an accident near Burlington, North Carolina. It was a business 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 improper pre-flight inspection, in that he failed to visually confirm the fuel quantity prior to departure.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 13, 1995 · about 2:15 pm local time
- Place
- Burlington, North Carolina · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-31-350 · all PA-31-350s on the register
- Registration
- N7144Z · no longer on the register · serial 31-7952150
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT DEPARTED BURLINGTON ON THE PREVIOUS DAY ON A ROUND TRIP FLIGHT TO COLUMBUS, OHIO. HE WAS TOLD PRIOR TO THE DEPARTURE THAT THE AIRCRAFT HAD BEEN FLOWN TWO TENTHS OF AN HOUR AFTER HAVING BEEN REFUELED. HE LOOKED AT THE FUEL GAUGES, AND BOTH GAUGES WERE BETWEEN 3/4 AND FULL. HE NEVER VISUALLY INSPECTED THE FUEL TANKS TO DETERMINE THE QUANTITY OF FUEL IN THE TANKS. DURING HIS APPROACH INTO BURLINGTON, THE RIGHT ENGINE STOPPED PRODUCING POWER. THE PILOT ELECTED TO EXECUTE A FORCED LANDING TO A HIGHWAY. DURING THE BASE LEG TO THE EMERGENCY LANDING SITE, THE LEFT ENGINE STOPPED PRODUCING POWER. THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK TRANSMISSION LINES AND CRASHED JUST SHORT OF THE HIGHWAY. THERE WAS NO RESIDUAL FUEL FOUND IN THE WRECKAGE, OR ON THE GROUND WHERE THE AIRCRAFT CAME TO REST.
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: airline transport pilot, flight instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,380 hours in all; 400 in this make and model; 330 in the last 90 days; 120 in the last 30 days; 3,150 as pilot in command; 320 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 10,036 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, January 5, 1995; 45 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 7,000 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming TIO-540 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: OSU Columbus OH at 12:15 pm
- Destination: BUY NC
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 150° at 14 knots, gusting 22
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 1,400 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 61°F (16°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:54 pm from GSO, 5 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.