Piper PA-22-135 accident near Enochville, North Carolina, September 23, 2000
On September 23, 2000 at about 11:06 pm local time, a Piper PA-22-135, registered N3483A, was substantially damaged in an accident near Enochville, North Carolina. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A loss of engine power for undetermined reasons.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 23, 2000 · about 11:06 pm local time
- Place
- Enochville, North Carolina · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-22-135 · all PA-22-135s on the register
- Registration
- N3483A · no longer on the register · serial 1753
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
Witnesses watched the airplane departing the airstrip, and when it did not return, they suspected that something had gone wrong. About 1 or 2 miles from the airport the pilot said, "I had an engine failure." He tried to land in a field but struck the top of a tree and then hit the ground. The FAA examined the wreckage, and found that there was fuel in the tanks, the fuel cap for the right fuel tank was not on the tank and was missing. External inspection indicated the engine had no fuel or oil leaks, the condition and color of the plugs insulation and electrode indicated no fouling, the engine was a little on the lean side, and operated on automotive gasoline. The pilot indicated that he flew a total of 5 hours in the accident airplane in the past 90 days, 3 hours in the past 30 days, and none the 24 hours before the accident.
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: single-engine land
- Flight time: 300 hours in all; 5 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,000 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 14, 2000; 4 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,950 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-290D2 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 163°F (73°C), dew point 158°F (70°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:00 pm from RUQ
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.