Amateur-built TEENIE TWO accident near Pinehurst, North Carolina, July 4, 1997
On July 4, 1997 at about 4:45 pm local time, a amateur-built TEENIE TWO, registered N9753, was substantially damaged in an accident near Pinehurst, North Carolina (Moore County 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 decision to takeoff with a tailwind and improper recovery from a bounced landing. This resulted in a premature lift off, in-flight collision with terrain, on-ground loss of directional control, and subsequent on-ground collision with a taxiway sign.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 4, 1997 · about 4:45 pm local time
- Place
- Pinehurst, North Carolina · Moore County Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built TEENIE TWO
- Registration
- N9753 · registry record · serial 510432
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane was observed to takeoff with a tailwind, became airborne, settled back onto the runway, and bounced three times. The pilot lost directional control, the airplane veered to the left, collided with a taxiway sign, yawed to the left 90 degrees, sheared off the nose wheel, skidded through the grass , crossed a taxiway and came to a complete stop. The pilot reported a partial loss of engine power on takeoff. Examination of the engine assembly and accessories revealed no evidence of a precrash mechanical failure or malfunction.
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: 80 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (expired)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 900 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Volkswagen (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SOP at 4:44 pm
- Destination: MYR Myrtle Beach SC
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 5, 5,503 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 290° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 91°F (33°C), dew point 72°F (22°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:15 pm from SOP
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.