# NTSB ATL94LA170: Piper J-5A, N31172, Raeford, NC, September 8, 1994 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 8, 1994, 15:29 local (19:29 UTC) - Place: Raeford, NC - Coordinates: 34.969551, -79.219955 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.9696&lon=-79.2200&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 1 fatal, 1 serious - Status: Completed, report May 16, 1995 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 3444 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL94LA170 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/3444/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL94LA170 ## Probable cause THE PILOT'S OSTENTATIOUS DISPLAY WHICH RESULTED IN A LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, maneuvering - airspeed - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command - ostentatious display, pilot in command (cause) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled ## Analysis ACCORDING TO THE PASSENGER, ABOUT FIFTEEN MINUTES INTO THE PLEASURE FLIGHT, THE PILOT APPROACHED A PRIVATE AIRSTRIP FLYING 35 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND. AS THEY APPROACHED THE STRIP THE AIRPLANE PASSED OVER A HIGHWAY AND A TRACTOR TRAILER CROSSED DIRECTLY BELOW THE AIRPLANE. AT THIS POINT, THE PILOT EXECUTED A STEEP CLIMBING TURN. THE AIRPLANE STALLED AND CRASHED IN A NOSE LOW ATTITUDE, AND BURNED. NO MECHANICAL PROBLEM WAS FOUND WITH THE AIRPLANE. ## Factual narrative On September 8, 1994, at 1845 eastern daylight time, a Piper J-5A, N31172, collided with the ground near a private airstrip in Raeford, North Carolina. The personal flight operated under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91, with no flight plan filed. Visual weather conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The airplane was destroyed by impact forces and the post impact fire. The pilot, and the passenger received serious injuries; two days after the accident the pilot expired. The flight departed a private airstrip near Raeford, North Carolina, at 1830 hours. According to the passenger, fifteen minutes into the flight, as they approached the private airstrip, a tractor trailer on highway 20 passed directly beneath the airplane. At that point the pilot initiated a "hard" right climbing turn. The steep climbing turn continued until the airplane stalled, and the airplane broke right. The airplane impacted the ground in a nose low attitude and burned. No obvious aircraft problems were observed by the passenger. The passenger stated that the pilot was flying at an altitude of 35 feet above the ground. Examination of the wreckage and accident site disclosed that the center section of the fuselage was fire damaged. The right landing gear and strut assemblies were displaced aft under the fuselage. The right wing spar assembly was also displaced aft and was broken in several places. An examination of the engine and airframe assemblies failed to disclose a mechanical malfunction or failure. The postmortem examination of the pilot was performed by Dr. Ricky Thompson, on September 10, 1994, at the North Carolina Office Of The Chief Medical Examiner in Chapel Hill. The cause of death was reported as thermal injuries secondary to the aircraft accident. The toxicological examinations were negative for drugs and alcohol. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N31172](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N31172-2017-06-07), registration cancelled 2017-06-07, S/N 5-326, built 1940 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER J-5A - Registry model: [Piper J5A](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-j5a) (registry code 7100702) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental C85 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-c85-series) (registry code 17008, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 5-326 - Engines: CONTINENTAL C-85 85 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Mcmillan, John D., Balfour, J. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, August 29, 1994 - Departed: NONE - Destination: NONE, NC ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 31; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 1,000 total ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 7 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 59 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: FAY, 25 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 (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 19940908027939A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19940908027939A), Sep 8, 1994: Piper J5A, Raeford, NC, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Low on final for airstrip. Aborted to miss a truck. Stalled in steep climbing turn. Crashed and burned. ## Other investigations on N31172 (1) From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. - [NTSB MIA71DLG23](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA71DLG23), Mar 14, 1971: Piper J-5A (N31172), Georgetown, SC, substantial damage From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.