Piper PA46 accident near Oak Island, North Carolina, November 18, 2008
On November 18, 2008 at about 8:00 pm local time, a Piper PA46, registered N6913Z, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Oak Island, North Carolina (Brunswick County Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during takeoff. Contributing to the accident were gusting crosswinds.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 18, 2008 · about 8:00 pm local time
- Place
- Oak Island, North Carolina · Brunswick County Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA46 310P · all PA46s on the register
- Registration
- N6913Z · no longer on the register · serial 46-8508073
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During the takeoff roll on runway 5, the pilot began to drift left of the runway centerline. The pilot stated that he applied right rudder, then the airplane turned sharply right "as if I overcorrected to the right." The pilot responded by pulling the throttle to idle. The airplane continued to veer onto the grass on the right side of the runway edge and down an embankment. As the airplane passed through a small culvert, the nose gear collapsed and the airplane came to rest in a drainage ditch. Examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed substantial damage to the airplane and no evidence of any mechanical abnormalities. Winds about the time of the accident were 320 degrees at 9 knots, gusting to 18 knots.
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
What happened, in order
- Loss of control on ground during takeoff defining event
- Runway excursion during takeoff
- Nose over/nose down during takeoff
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Attain/maintain not possible
- factor Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Gusts › Not specified
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 400 hours in all; 400 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Maximum gross weight: 12,500 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental TSIO-520 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SUT Oak Island NC at 8:00 pm
- Destination: SUT Oak Island NC
- Flight plan: not recorded
- Runway 05, 4,301 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 320° at 9 knots, gusting 18
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; scat at 7,500 ft
- Temperature: 45°F (7°C), dew point 19°F (-7°C)
- Altimeter: 30.14 inHg
- Observation at 8:00 pm from SUT
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
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.
Other NTSB records under N6913Z the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.