- Date
- August 2, 1990, 10:30 local (14:30 UTC)
- Place
- Southport, NC
- Injuries
- 2 fatal
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N9239TPiper PA-18
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report March 12, 1993
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19900802029539A
- Case key
- 8145
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The entry into a flat spin which precluded recovery by the pilot. The reason for the spin becoming flat could not be determined.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
After entering an intentional spin maneuver, witnesses reported that the spin immediately became 'flat'. The spin continued for about 7 to 8 turns prior to ground impact. Reportedly, the nose dropped slightly during the last turn of the spin. Weight and balance calculations indicate that the aircraft should have been inside utility category limitations during the accident flight. The reason for the spin becoming flat, and the pilot's failure to recover control of the airplane was not determined.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N9239T
- Reported as
- Piper PA-18
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 18-2253
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320, 150 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Fire
- On-Ground
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Oak Island Flight Academy
- Last inspection
- 100 hour · July 13, 1990
- Airport
- SUT · Brunswick County
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 54
- Certificates
- Airline transport, Flight instructor
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 1, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Toxicology
- Performed
- Flight hours
- 24,090 total
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 80° at 10 knots
- Visibility
- 6 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 1,700 ft overcast
- Temperature
- 82 °F, dew point 73 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- ILM, 23 nm away
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.