Piper PA-38-112 accident near Franklin, North Carolina, July 19, 1995
On July 19, 1995 at about 6:20 pm local time, a Piper PA-38-112, registered N6303A, was substantially damaged in an accident near Franklin, North Carolina (Macon County airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's premature lift-off, which resulted in a stall and collision with the ground.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 19, 1995 · about 6:20 pm local time
- Place
- Franklin, North Carolina · Macon County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-38-112 · all PA-38-112s on the register
- Registration
- N6303A · no longer on the register · serial 38-78A0374
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT STATED THAT HE WAS PERFORMING A SHORT FIELD TAKEOFF, AND USED 'ONE NOTCH' OF FLAPS. AFTER LIFTOFF, THE AIRPLANE SETTLED, LOSING AIRSPEED AND ALTITUDE, AND BEGAN DRIFTING LEFT. IT CONTACTED THE GROUND ON THE LEFT WING AND TAIL SIMULTANEOUSLY. IN HIS REPORT, THE PILOT SAID HE LIFTED OFF EARLY, WITH INADEQUATE AIRSPEED.
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: 594 hours in all; 502 in this make and model; 28 in the last 90 days; 8 in the last 30 days; 519 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,402 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 14, 1995; 51 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 1A5 at 6:20 pm
- Destination: 0A4 Johnson City TN
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 7, 4,400 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 110° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 4,000 ft
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 63°F (17°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:51 pm from AVL, 45 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.