North American SNJ-5 accident near Elk Park, North Carolina, April 28, 2000
On April 28, 2000 at about 8:12 pm local time, a North American SNJ-5, registered N3187G, was destroyed in an accident near Elk Park, North Carolina. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The inflight loss of control for undetermined reasons resulting in the airplane colliding with mountainous terrain during the uncontrolled descent.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 28, 2000 · about 8:12 pm local time
- Place
- Elk Park, North Carolina · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- North American SNJ-5 · all SNJ-5s on the register
- Registration
- N3187G · no longer on the register · serial 52022
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
Recorded radar data showed the flight was in cruise at 8,000 feet, at an average speed of about 140 knots, when it descended to 7,700 feet and turned from a northwesterly to a westerly heading. The pilot was responding to an ATC request to verify clearance at this time. The flight then turned to a northerly heading and climbed to 8,100 feet. The flight then turned to southeasterly heading and descended to 7,500 feet. Radar contact was lost for about 30 seconds. When radar contact was reestablished the flight was at 5,300 feet on a northeasterly heading. The airplane continued on a northeasterly heading and climbed to 5,500 feet. Radar contact was then lost at 1611:25, at a position 1 mile east of the crash site, which was on the side of a mountain. The first 911 call about the accident was at 1612:02. A witness reported hearing the airplane flying to the north and the engine start to cut out. The engine continued to rev up and cut out and the airplane sounded like it had turned toward the south. He then heard the engine rev up to high power, cut off, followed by the sound of the crash. The witness stated the weather at the crash site was overcast clouds at the treetops, with visibility 1.5 miles. Post crash examination of the aircraft structure, flight controls, vacuum system, engine, and propeller showed no evidence of precrash failure or malfunction. The propeller had bending and twisting consistent with high engine power at the time of ground impact. The airplane was operating in an area that was forecast to have icing conditions from 9,000 to 18,000 feet. Another pilot reported encountering light icing conditions at 7,500 feet, about 16 miles northeast of the crash site, about 13 minutes before the accident. The airplane was operating in conditions conducive to serious carburetor icing at cruise power.
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: private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,552 hours in all; 1,453 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,426 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 12, 1999; 20 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 5,227 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: P&W R1340-AN1 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: HKY Hickory NC at 7:49 pm
- Destination: TYQ Indianapolis IN
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 360° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; scat at 1,600 ft
- Temperature: 45°F (7°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:50 pm from KTN, 14 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.