Piper PA28 accident near Greensboro, North Carolina, March 8, 2024
On March 8, 2024 at about 4:55 pm local time, a Piper PA28, registered N8455R, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Greensboro, North Carolina (Piedmont Triad Intl 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 failure to maintain directional control while landing with a crosswind.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 8, 2024 · about 4:55 pm local time
- Place
- Greensboro, North Carolina · Piedmont Triad Intl · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA28 140 · all PA28s on the register
- Registration
- N8455R · registry record · serial 28-22356
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The student pilot was landing with a crosswind. He stated that after the main landing gear touched down, a gust of wind pushed the airplane to the right. After the nosewheel touched down, the airplane was pointed toward the runway’s precision approach path indicator lights. The airplane subsequently travelled off the right side of the runway and struck two of the lights. Both of the airplane’s wings were substantially damaged. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures of the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
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)
- Loss of control on ground during landing (landing roll) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Crosswind › Response/compensation
Dual student
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 56 hours in all; 56 in this make and model; 56 in the last 90 days; 17 in the last 30 days; 6 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,170 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, February 21, 2024; 40 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,150 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2A (piston); 1,200 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: W78 South Boston VA at 4:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 05, 9,000 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 140° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 3,700 ft; a few clouds at 3,000 ft
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 30.19 inHg
- Observation at 11:54 am from GSO
Weather report (METAR): KGSO 081554Z 14008KT 10SM FEW030 OVC037 16/07 A3019 RMK AO2 SLP220 T01560072 10161 20111 58015
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Photographs from the investigation 3 pictures from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
INVESTIGATIVE PHOTOS Photograph 1 – Damaged right wing.
INVESTIGATIVE PHOTOS Photograph 2 – Damaged left wing.
INVESTIGATIVE PHOTOS Photograph 3 –Damage to visual glide slope lights.The NTSB's photographs with the NTSB's captions, at screen size. Open a picture to see it full size or to report one that should not be shown.
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
3 documents, released by the NTSB on May 3, 2024. 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 A�� Telephone Interview, Student Pilot | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Investigative Photos | PDF, 4 pages · our copy | 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.