Piper PA-28-140 accident near Carthage, North Carolina, July 23, 1998
On July 23, 1998 at about 9:15 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-140, registered N4212J, was substantially damaged in an accident near Carthage, North Carolina (Gilliam-Mcconnell airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The failure of the pilot to maintain directional control of the airport resulting in the collapse of the nose and left main landing gears.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 23, 1998 · about 9:15 pm local time
- Place
- Carthage, North Carolina · Gilliam-Mcconnell · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-140 · all PA-28-140s on the register
- Registration
- N4212J · registry record · serial 28-22559
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The flight departed, performed airwork and 1 touch-and-go landing at a nearby airport, then returned to the original departure airport. The pilot overflew the airport, observed the windsock, then entered the traffic pattern to land on runway 31. The pilot reported that after touchdown on the 2,538-foot long runway with the flaps fully extended, he lightly applied the brakes, which felt mushy. He then maneuvered the airplane onto grass to help slow the airplane but this was not effective. He maneuvered the airplane onto the runway and with obstructions ahead, forcefully applied right brake which caused the airplane to veer to the right. The airplane traveled off the runway and came to rest with nose and left main landing gears collapsed. Examination of the brake system by the FAA revealed no evidence of preimpact failure or malfunction. A weather observation taken at an airport 6 miles away indicates in part that the wind was from 230 degrees at 14 knots.
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: 95 hours in all; 6 in this make and model; 9 in the last 90 days; 7 in the last 30 days; 81 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,406 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 1, 1997; 17 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,150 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SOP Southern Pines NC at 8:50 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 31, 2,538 ft by 36 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 230° at 14 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 93°F (34°C), dew point 68°F (20°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:15 pm from SOP, 6 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.