Piper PA 22 accident near Fuquay Varina, North Carolina, July 14, 2020
On July 14, 2020 at about 2:00 pm local time, a 1954 Piper PA 22, registered N1520P, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Fuquay Varina, North Carolina (Fuquay/Angier Field). 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 failure to attain a proper approach speed, which resulted in an overrun of the wet grass runway.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 14, 2020 · about 2:00 pm local time
- Place
- Fuquay Varina, North Carolina · Fuquay/Angier Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA 22 150, built 1954 · all PA 22s on the register
- Registration
- N1520P · no longer on the register · serial 22-2385
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
As the pilot approached the destination airport for landing, he felt that the elevator trim was not working properly. He elected to return to the 2,780-ft-long grass runway at his home airport. While approaching the airport he continued his attempts to adjust the pitch trim, to no avail. He further reported that even after his attempts to adjust the elevator trim, it felt as if there was too much nose down trim, as he had to maintain back pressure on the yoke to keep the wings level. As the approach continued, he felt that he could not slow the airplane down or descend enough and entered a slip. The airplane landed “long and fast,” and the brakes were not effective due to the damp grass. The airplane departed the end of the runway and the right wing was substantially damaged after it impacted a tree. After the accident, the pilot stated that he adjusted the elevator trim and the system seemed to work properly.
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
- Runway excursion during landing (landing roll) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Airspeed › Not attained/maintained
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface › Wet surface › Effect on operation
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Tree(s) › Contributed to outcome
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 532 hours in all; 139 in this make and model; 5 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days
- Last flight review: December 20, 2019
- Medical certificate: BasicMed (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,321 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 26, 2020
- Maximum gross weight: 2,000 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-290-D2 (piston); 3,321 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 78NC Fuquay Varina NC at 11:15 am
- Destination: 78NC Fuquay Varina NC
- Runway 14, 2,780 ft by 90 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 73°F (23°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:35 pm from KHRJ, 10 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
3 documents, released by the NTSB on April 12, 2021. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 11 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Memorandum for Record - Telephone Interview, Pilot | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Investigative Photographs | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.