Piper PA-32R-300 accident near Burnsville, North Carolina, January 25, 1995
On January 25, 1995 at about 10:10 pm local time, a Piper PA-32R-300, registered N1999H, was substantially damaged in an accident near Burnsville, North Carolina (Mountain Air Country Club airport). It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO COMPLETE THE BEFORE-LANDING CHECKLIST TO ENSURE THAT THE LANDING GEAR WAS EXTENDED.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 25, 1995 · about 10:10 pm local time
- Place
- Burnsville, North Carolina · Mountain Air Country Club · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-32R-300 · all PA-32R-300s on the register
- Registration
- N1999H · no longer on the register · serial 32R-7780216
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
ACCORDING TO THE AIRPORT MANAGER, THE PILOT HAD JUST COMPLETED A FLYBY OF THE RUNWAY AND WAS IN THE PATTERN TO LAND. THE WITNESS NOTICED THAT ON FINAL APPROACH, THE PILOT HAD NOT LOWERED THE LANDING GEAR. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE HAD NOT PERFORMED A COMPLETE, BEFORE-LANDING CHECKLIST AND HAD FORGOTTEN TO LOWER THE GEAR. AFTER THE PROPELLER BLADE TIPS STRUCK THE RUNWAY, THE PILOT ADDED POWER TO GO AROUND BUT THEN DECIDED TO MAKE A GEAR-UP LANDING. THE AIRCRAFT OVERRAN THE RUNWAY AND COLLIDED WITH TERRAIN.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 865 hours in all; 312 in this make and model; 31 in the last 90 days; 9 in the last 30 days; 748 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 3,400 lb
- Seats: 7
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming TIO-540 SER (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PDK Chamblee GA at 9:08 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 32, 2,900 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 4,000 ft
- Temperature: 50°F (10°C), dew point 21°F (-6°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
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.