Piper PA-32R-300 accident near Laurinburg, NC
On September 5, 1993, a Piper PA-32R-300 (airplane) was involved in an accident near Laurinburg, NC. 2 people died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- September 5, 1993
- Place
- Laurinburg, NC
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-32R-300 · Airplane
- Injuries
- 2 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 34.760°N, 79.469°W
- NTSB ID
- 20001211X13302
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On September 5, 1993, at 0915 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-32R-300, N5339F, collided with the ground following an in flight break-up during cruise flight. The airplane was registered to Fox Aviation, Incorporated, and was operated by the pilot under 14 CFR Part 91 and visual flight rules. Instrument meteorological conditions existed at the time of the accident. A flight plan was not filed for the personal flight. The non- instrument rated private pilot and one passenger were fatally injured. The airplane was destroyed. Origination of the flight was Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, at 0830 on the same morning. At 0848 EDT, N5339F contacted Myrtle Beach Approach Control and received VFR flight following (traffic advisories). At 0859, Radar service was terminated. No further transmissions were received after that time. Witnesses stated that a thunderstorm began approximately 0830 that morning and lasted until almost 1300 that afternoon. The storm included lightning from cloud to cloud and from cloud to ground. At one time, a witness stated that he was unable to see a pond which was about 200 feet from a window in his office. Other witnesses confirmed the weather conditions at this time and also heard what sounded like an airplane overhead around 0900-0930. The aircraft wreckage was discovered shortly after the storm. PERSONNEL INFORMATION The pilot possessed a single engine land private pilot certificate. He did not hold an instrument rating. No current record of the pilot's flight experience could be located. Additional information on the pilot can be foun
Probable cause
THE PILOT'S VFR FLIGHT INTO INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS (IMC), FAILURE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT AFTER BECOMING SPATIALLY DISORIENTED, AND INADVERTENTLY EXCEEDING THE DESIGN STRESS LIMITS OF THE AIRCRAFT. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS, FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO OBTAIN A PREFLIGHT WEATHER BRIEFING, AND THE PILOT'S LACK OF INSTRUMENT EXPERIENCE
More accidents in NC
- Douglas DC-9-31, Jul 2, 1994
- Beech 1900D, Jan 8, 2003
- Pilatus Aircraft Ltd PC-12/47E, Feb 13, 2022
- Cessna 550, Dec 18, 2025
- Beech D55, Jan 9, 1983
Browse: North Carolina · Piper aircraft
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
