Piper PA-28-140 accident near Climax, North Carolina, November 15, 2002
On November 15, 2002 at about 10:59 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-140, registered N8162N, was substantially damaged in an accident near Climax, North Carolina (Southeast Greensboro Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's operation of the airplane at a low altitude during final approach that resulted in an in-flight collision with a tree, a witness reported pitch-up, and subsequent stall and in-flight collision with terrain.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 15, 2002 · about 10:59 pm local time
- Place
- Climax, North Carolina · Southeast Greensboro Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-140 · all PA-28-140s on the register
- Registration
- N8162N · no longer on the register · serial 28-25358
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The flight departed about 1653, or approximately 46 minutes before the calculated end of civil twilight, and the accident occurred approximately 1759, or 20 minutes after the end of civil twilight. One witness reported seeing lights from the airplane descend below trees, then the lights from the airplane were observed to come up and then went down sharply. Another witness noted the airplane was flying alongside a highway nearby the airport at a low altitude, then observed the airplane collide with the tops of trees. The airplane then descended nose first and came to rest upright in a wooded area in a right wing and nose low attitude with the empennage elevated. A damaged tree located north of where the airplane came to rest was noted. The impact damaged right wing remained secured by the aileron flight control cables, while the bolt securing the aft wing and fuselage fittings of the left wing was not recovered. NTSB Metallurgical examination of the holes in the fittings of the left wing revealed elongation consistent with contact by the bolt shank. No evidence or preimpact failure or malfunction was noted with the flight controls for roll, pitch, and yaw. The auxiliary fuel pump and landing light operationally tested satisfactory post accident. Examination of the engine revealed no evidence of preimpact failure or malfunction. Tree trunks measuring various diameters were noted to have 45-degree cuts. The airport was determined to have a homemade visual approach slope indicator (VASI) installed, that was utilized by a pilot who flew a twin engine airplane into the airport; the airport facility directory did not depict the homemade VASI. A review of the pilot's logbook revealed his last logged night flight occurred on October 22, 2002, or about 24 days earlier.
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: 429 hours in all; 16 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days; 360 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: April 27, 2002
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,780.3 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 18, 2002; 27.9 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,150 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-D3G (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 3A4 Climax NC at 9:53 pm
- Destination: 3A4 Climax NC
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 17, 3,063 ft by 30 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night
- Wind: from 190° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 25,000 ft; a few clouds at 6,000 ft
- Temperature: 57°F (14°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 30.02 inHg
- Observation at 10:54 pm from KGSO, 15 miles away
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.