Piper PA-28-181 accident near Charlotte, North Carolina, April 3, 1998
On April 3, 1998 at about 3:15 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-181, registered N4594F, was substantially damaged in an accident near Charlotte, North Carolina (Charlotte Douglas 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 failure to follow proper starting procedures.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 3, 1998 · about 3:15 pm local time
- Place
- Charlotte, North Carolina · Charlotte Douglas
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-181 · all PA-28-181s on the register
- Registration
- N4594F · registry record · serial 28-7750048
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
After a preflight, pilot 'A' got into the left seat and pilot 'B' into the right seat and attempted to start the engine, but could not sustain a start. Both pilots exited the airplane and agreed to remove the cowling to determine the problem. Both pilots determined it was not a mechanical problem and pilot 'B' volunteered to get into the airplane and attempt to start the engine. According to pilot 'B''s statement, he told pilot 'A' to 'stay clear of the prop.' He sat in the pilot's seat, looked out and saw pilot 'A' standing to the right of the aircraft, clear of the prop. Pilot 'B' said he 'shouted clear' from the open window on the pilot's side, turned the ignition and the engine 'fired immediately.' He then looked to the right after the engine engaged, saw blood on the wing, and the plane began to race. He said, '...I applied maximum pressure on the toe brakes, but could not stop the plane from moving forward into an open hangar directly in front of the plane. The prop hit a car parked in the hangar and I noticed the right wing bend...fuel start to leak from the tank...the throttle was advanced. I closed the throttle and mixture and the engine finally choked out.' Pilot 'B' then went to the other pilot, rendered aid and called for medical help.
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: 1,074 hours in all; 874 in this make and model; 32 in the last 90 days; 15 in the last 30 days; 858 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,562 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 11, 1997; 61 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,550 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A4M (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: IGY Chapel Hill NC
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 140° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 2,000 ft; clear
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 37°F (3°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:52 pm from CLT
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.