Piper PA-32-260 and Piper PA-28-236 mid-air collision near Plymouth, North Carolina, November 1, 2008
On November 1, 2008 at about 1:35 pm local time, 2 aircraft, Piper PA-32-260 (N3568W) and Piper PA-28-236 (N2139N), were involved in a mid-air collision near Plymouth, North Carolina (Plymouth Municipal airport). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The Piper Dakota (PA-28-236) pilot's failure to see and avoid the Piper Cherokee (PA-32-260).
The Piper Dakota (PA-28-236) pilot's failure to see and avoid the Piper Cherokee (PA-32-260).
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 1, 2008 · about 1:35 pm local time
- Place
- Plymouth, North Carolina · Plymouth Municipal · map
- Type
- Accident · mid-air collision
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- Piper PA-32-260 · all PA-32-260s on the register
- Registration
- N3568W · no longer on the register · serial 32-459
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
- Aircraft 2
- Piper PA-28-236 · all PA-28-236s on the register
- Registration
- N2139N · no longer on the register · serial 28-7911095
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative for the Piper PA-32-260 final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot of a Piper Cherokee (PA-32-260) was practicing a global-positioning-system (GPS) instrument approach in visual meteorological conditions without a safety observer onboard. Another pilot, in a Piper Dakota (PA-28-236), was also navigating inbound to the airport via GPS. Both pilots stated that they made inbound radio calls, during which they didn't hear each other, but heard a response from an airplane on the ground. The Dakota subsequently overtook the Cherokee and impacted its right side, peeling back the roof. The Dakota then descended, coming to rest inverted in trees, while the Cherokee entered a spin until a low-level recovery, followed by a descent into a river.
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 NTSB's narrative for the Piper PA-28-236 final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot of a Piper Cherokee (PA-32-260) was practicing a global-positioning-system (GPS) instrument approach in visual meteorological conditions without a safety observer onboard. Another pilot, in a Piper Dakota (PA-28-236), was also navigating inbound to the airport via GPS. Both pilots stated that they made inbound radio calls, during which they didn't hear each other, but heard a response from an airplane on the ground. The Dakota subsequently overtook the Cherokee and impacted its right side, peeling back the roof. The Dakota then descended, coming to rest inverted in trees, while the Cherokee entered a spin until a low-level recovery, followed by a descent into a river.
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 for the Piper PA-32-260 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Midair collision during approach defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Monitoring other aircraft › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 1,050 hours in all; 12 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days; 950 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: October 28, 2007
- Medical certificate: Class 3
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,142 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 19, 2008; 35 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,400 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-540 SERIES (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PMZ Plymouth NC
- Destination: PMZ Plymouth NC
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 230° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 68°F (20°C), dew point 36°F (2°C)
- Altimeter: 30.32 inHg
- Observation at 4:42 pm from EDE, 14 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
The factual record for the Piper PA-28-236 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Midair collision during approach defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Monitoring other aircraft › Pilot of other aircraft
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,049 hours in all; 453 in this make and model; 12 in the last 90 days; 9 in the last 30 days; 1,049 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: March 6, 2007
- Medical certificate: Class 3
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,146 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 12, 2008; 238 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,000 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-540 SERIES (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: OCW Washington NC at 1:20 pm
- Destination: PMZ Plymouth NC
- Flight plan: none
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.