Boone Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Boone, North Carolina 28607
Sunday, September 26, 1993 10:15 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE DENSITY ALTITUDE AT THE BOONE AIRPORT AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT WAS 5154 FEET MSL. THE AIRCRAFT GROSS WEIGHT AT THE TIME OF THE DEPARTURE WAS 3012.3 POUNDS. THE MAXIMUM GROSS WEIGHT LISTED IN THE PILOT'S HANDBOOK IS 2900 POUNDS. WITNESSES STATED THAT THE AIRCRAFT NEVER CLIMBED MORE THAN 200 FEET ABOVE GROUND LEVEL PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT. THE WITNESSES STATED THAT AT A POINT ABOUT 1/2 MILE FROM THE DEPARTURE END OF THE RUNWAY THE AIRCRAFT WAS IN A NOSE HIGH ATTITUDE, THE WINGS WERE ROCKING FROM SIDE TO SIDE, AND THE LANDING GEAR WAS STILL IN THE EXTENDED POSITION. THE WITNESSES STATED THAT THE AIRCRAFT'S ALTITUDE WAS BELOW THE TOPS OF THE RIDGE LINE AHEAD, AND THAT JUST PRIOR TO THE RIDGE, THE AIRCRAFT NOSE PITCHED UP TO NEAR VERTICAL, THE AIRCRAFT BANKED SHARPLY TO THE RIGHT, THE NOSE DROPPED, AND IMPACTED THE TERRAIN IN A NEAR VERTICAL NOSE DOWN ATTITUDE. THE LANDING GEAR WAS FOUND TO BE IN THE DOWN AND LOCKED POSITION.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's improper preflight planning, his failure to retract the landing gear after departure, and his failure to maintain control of the aircraft. Factors in the accident were the high density altitude, and the mountainous terrain.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 9/26/1993
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1015
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City BOONE
Event State NORTH CAROLINA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 28607
Event Date Year 1993
Event Date Month 9
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport BOONE
Event Location Nearest Airport ID NONE
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 2
Degrees magnetic from airport 330
Airport Elevation 3120
Weather Briefing Completeness Full
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1050 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 210
Weather Observation Facility ID AVL
Elevation of weather observation facility 2165
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 50
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 15
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 27
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 16
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 180
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 4
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) 5194
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Fatal
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal 4
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 4
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 2090
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Sep 26 1993 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1100
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 11 2000 1:38PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N5586P
NTSB Number ATL93FA162
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name PIPER
Aircraft Model PA-24-250
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-24-250
Aircraft Serial Number 24-650
Certified Max Gross Weight 2800
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection May 27 1993 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 39
Airframe Hours 2648
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name KADON CORPORATION
Aircraft Owner Street Address 2920 KREITZER RD.
Aircraft Owner City DAYTON
Aircraft Owner State OH
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 45401
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name COON, GERALD L.
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 5801 HEATHERGREEN DR.
Operator City DAYTON
Operator State OH
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 45429
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board Yes
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1014
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code DAY
Destination City DAYTON
Destination State OH
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Takeoff
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:30AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 33
Runway Length 2100
Runway Width 75
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --