Ector Aircraft Company 305A (L-19) accident near Morganton, North Carolina, June 25, 1998
On June 25, 1998 at about 4:37 pm local time, a Ector Aircraft Company 305A (L-19), registered N16574, was substantially damaged in an accident near Morganton, North Carolina. It was a public-use 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 inflight encounter with a downdraft which led to a stall/mush and an inflight collision with the ground. Factors were the inadequate training in mountain flying and inadequate guidelines provided by the North Carolina Forest Service.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 25, 1998 · about 4:37 pm local time
- Place
- Morganton, North Carolina · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Ector Aircraft Company 305A (L-19) 305A (L-19
- Registration
- N16574 · no longer on the register · serial 2019
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Public-use flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to the pilot, he was flying above a fire as a spotter for the U. S. Forest Service (USFS), although he was employed by the North Carolina Forest Service (NCFS). The fire was on a mountain which lies in a north-south direction. The winds were westerly. He began by flying approximately 600-800 feet above the ridge. After completing several circuits, the pilot stated the air became turbulent, so he climbed 1000 feet. After completing several circuits at the new altitude, the pilot decided to reverse directions and fly a clockwise pattern. He flew away from the mountain on the leeward side and made a 180 degree turn. As he completed the turn, the airplane began to lose altitude rapidly. The pilot stated he added full power and leveled the wings, but he was still descending in excess of 500 feet per minute, with his airspeed decreasing through 80 miles per hour (mph). He then started a right turn to clear the ridge, but he was already below the ridge line. The pilot stated the controls became mushy and unresponsive. He stated he then attempted to make a 'controlled crash'. The pilot reported no problems with the airplane or engine. The pilot reported having approximately 4 1/2 years mountain flying experience while in Alaska, but no formal training in mountain flying. The airplane stalls at 47 mph when in level flight with no flaps. NCFS pilots reported that they have no regulations, handbook, or guidelines for use when flying.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 7,683 hours in all; 276 in this make and model; 100 in the last 90 days; 69 in the last 30 days; 7,361 as pilot in command; 2,122 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,156 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 9, 1998; 97 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470-11B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MRN Morganton NC at 4:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 64°F (18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:54 pm from AVL, 50 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.