Piper PA-28-140 accident near Climax, NC
On November 15, 2002, a Piper PA-28-140 (airplane) was involved in an accident near Climax, NC. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: substantial.
- Date
- November 15, 2002
- Place
- Climax, NC
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-140 · Airplane
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Substantial
- Position
- 35.952°N, 79.692°W
- NTSB ID
- 20021120X05493
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On November 15, 2002, about 1759 eastern standard time, a Piper PA-28-140, N8162N, registered to a private individual, crashed in a wooded area approximately .7 nautical mile north-northwest of Southeast Greensboro Airport, Climax, North Carolina. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed for the 14 CFR Part 91 personal, local flight from the Southeast Greensboro Airport, Climax, North Carolina. The airplane was substantially damaged and the private-rated pilot, the sole occupant, was fatally injured. The flight originated about 1653, from the Southeast Greensboro Airport. A witness reported seeing the lights of the airplane, and based on the movement of the lights, thought the airplane was flying slowly as if preparing to land. He then observed the lights descend below trees then observed the lights, "come up and went down sharply." Another witness reported seeing the airplane flying alongside a highway nearby the airport at a low altitude. The witness reported observing the airplane hit the tree tops; the airplane then crashed nose first. PERSONNEL INFORMATION The pilot was issued a third-class medical certificate on November 13, 2002, with no limitations. He was issued a private pilot certificate with airplane single engine land rating on June 20, 1997. Review of his pilot logbook revealed his last logged flight was dated November 3, 2002. He logged a total flight time of approximately 429 hours, of which 360 were logged as pilot-in-command, 16 and 2 hours in the accident airplane in the last 90 and 30 days, res
Probable cause
The pilot's operation of the airplane at a low altitude during final approach that resulted in an in-flight collision with a tree, a witness reported pitch-up, and subsequent stall and in-flight collision with terrain.
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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.
