Piper PA-28-180D accident near Advance, North Carolina, March 12, 1998
On March 12, 1998 at about 11:10 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-180D, registered N7826N, was substantially damaged in an accident near Advance, North Carolina (Twin Lakes airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed and 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's improper planned visual approach and glide path in diminished visual conditions due to sun-glare and his delayed go-around resulting in the aircraft colliding with trees on final approach.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 12, 1998 · about 11:10 pm local time
- Place
- Advance, North Carolina · Twin Lakes · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed and 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-180D · all PA-28-180Ds on the register
- Registration
- N7826N · no longer on the register · serial 28-5279
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The passenger stated that as the flight turned onto final approach to land on runway 27, he was blinded and disoriented by the sun which was directly down, and just above the runway. He then realized he was looking at the sun and runway through tree branches. The aircraft collided with the trees and then crashed to the ground. Neither he nor the pilot were wearing sunglasses or using the aircraft's sun visors. Postcrash examination of the aircraft structure, flight controls, engine, and propeller showed no evidence of precrash failure or malfunction. At the time and location of the accident, the sun was at an altitude of 3.3 degrees on a bearing of 268.3 degrees.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,015 hours in all; 1,050 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,425 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 15, 1997; 165 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,400 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A4A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: CHA Chattanooga TN at 9:12 pm
- Destination: 8A7
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 27, 2,943 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 43°F (6°C), dew point 1°F (-17°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:51 pm from CLT, 52 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.