Piper PA-28-180 accident near Wilgrove, NC
On May 7, 1997, a Piper PA-28-180 (airplane) was involved in an accident near Wilgrove, NC. 3 people were seriously injured. Damage to the aircraft: substantial.
- Date
- May 7, 1997
- Place
- Wilgrove, NC
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-180 · Airplane
- Injuries
- 0 fatal, 3 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Substantial
- Position
- 35.191°N, 80.740°W
- NTSB ID
- 20001208X07976
NTSB summary
On May 7, 1997, about 0540 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-28-180, N3976R, registered to Flyinc, was substantially damaged while on approach for landing, near Wilgrove, North Carolina. The private-rated pilot was removed from the wreckage with serious injuries, and taken to a local hospital. Two passengers received minor injures. Visual meteorological conditions (VMC) prevailed in the vicinity, and no flight plan had been filed. The personal flight had originated at Fort Lauderdale, Florida, with an intermediate stop for fuel near Jacksonville, Florida. The flight was being conducted in accordance with Title 14 CFR Part 91. The pilot had contacted Charlotte Approach Control, and requested assistance to the Wilgrove Airport. The airplane was radar identified, and given the location of the airport. Radar and radio contact was lost, and a short time later, approach control was notified by the police that the airplane had crashed. The airplane impacted in a residential area. There was no damage to property or any injuries to any persons on the ground. Several attempts were made to have the pilot return the NTSB Form 6120.1/2, and it was received on September 4, 1997. According to his statement they landed at Fernandina Beach Airport, Florida, "to purchase fuel," May 6, 1997. The pilot then stated, "we continued to Ft. Lauderdale...with an approximate arrival around 06:00 P.M. [sic]. When we returned to the FBO around 10:00 P.M. I asked them to fill the plane with fuel and we left going to Charlotte. We stopped at Jacksonville...and asked the FBO to fill the airplane again, an
Probable cause
the pilot's improper planning, which resulted in fuel exhaustion and a forced landing short of the intended destination airport.
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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.
