# NTSB IAD78FA101: Piper PA-31, N9173Y, Charlotte, NC, August 31, 1978

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Closed
- Date: August 31, 1978
- Place: Charlotte, NC · CHARLOTTE, NC
- Location: 35.2271° N, 80.8431° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Charlotte, NC, within about 10 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.2271&lon=-80.8431&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious, 1 minor
- Status: Completed, report October 3, 1978
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 139809
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=IAD78FA101
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD78FA101

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-2987  78/8/31    CHARLOTTE,NC        PIPER PA-31         CR-  0  1  1  INSTRUCTIONAL             ATP,FLIGHT INSTR., AGE
        TIME - 1643                    N9173Y              PX-  0  0  0  TRAINING                  31, 3950 TOTAL HOURS, 800
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            IN TYPE, INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - DOUGLAS MUNI
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          CHARLOTTE,NC                LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           ENGINE FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION                            TAKEOFF: INITIAL CLIMB
           STALL: MUSH                                              TAKEOFF: INITIAL CLIMB
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - EXERCISED POOR JUDGMENT
           PILOT IN COMMAND - INADEQUATE SUPERVISION OF FLIGHT
           DUAL STUDENT - FAILED TO FOLLOW APPROVED PROCEDURES,DIRECTIVES,ETC.
           DUAL STUDENT - MISUSED OR FAILED TO USE FLAPS
           DUAL STUDENT - FAILED TO OBTAIN/MAINTAIN FLYING SPEED
           PILOT IN COMMAND - DIVERTED ATTENTION FROM OPERATION OF AIRCRAFT
           DUAL STUDENT - DIVERTED ATTENTION FROM OPERATION OF AIRCRAFT
        REMARKS- INSTR PLT CUT RT ENG MIXTURE AT LIFTOFF.ACFT FLAPS REMAINED DOWN.PLTS PREOCCUPIED WITH RESTART.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N9173Y](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9173Y-2012-11-19), registration cancelled 2012-11-19, S/N 31-230, built 1968 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-31
- Registry model: [Piper PA-31-300](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-31-300) (registry code 7103104) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming TI0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-ti0-540-series) (registry code 41533, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Airport: Douglas Muni

## 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 19780831035289A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19780831035289A), Aug 31, 1978: Piper PA31T1, Charlotte, NC, Destroyed. Instr plt cut rt eng mixture at liftoff. Acft flaps remained down. Preoccupied with restart.

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.