Brunswick County Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Southport, North Carolina 28461
Friday, July 24, 1992 20:45 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PILOT & PASSENGER STATED THAT THEY HAD BEEN HIRED TO OVERFLY A WEDDING PARTY TO DROP CONFETTI & NOTES. THE DROP SITE WAS ABUT 75 FEET TO ONE SIDE OF THE EXTENDED CENTERLINE OF THE RUNWAY, & ABOUT 1/4 MILE FROM THE APPROACH THRESHOLD. AFTER OVERFLYING THE SITE, AT DUSK, & DROPPING THE CONFETTI, THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH A TREE.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN CLEARANCE FROM OBSTACLES. A FACTOR WAS THE DUSK LIGHTING CONDITION.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 7/24/1992
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 2045
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City SOUTHPORT
Event State NORTH CAROLINA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 28461
Event Date Year 1992
Event Date Month 7
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport BRUNSWICK COUNTY
Event Location Nearest Airport ID SUT
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 1
Degrees magnetic from airport 50
Airport Elevation 25
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1950 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 30
Weather Observation Facility ID ILM
Elevation of weather observation facility 32
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 25
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Dusk
Lowest Ceiling Height 25000
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 3000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Broken
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 27
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 24
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 220
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 8
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) 1500
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Minor
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 2
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 2538
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jul 27 1992 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 830
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 47370
Date of most recent change to record Dec 11 2000 3:04PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N7712H
NTSB Number ATL92LA147
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name PIPER
Aircraft Model PA-12
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-12
Aircraft Serial Number 12-604
Certified Max Gross Weight 1625
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 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Jan 2 2000 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name PRITCHARD, THOMAS A., SR.
Aircraft Owner Street Address 12303 BAIN SCHOOL ROAD
Aircraft Owner City CHARLOTTE
Aircraft Owner State NC
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 28227
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name PRITCHARD, THOMAS A., JR.
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 7940 WILSON WOODS DRIVE
Operator City CHARLOTTE
Operator State NC
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 28227
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) Other Work Use
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code SUT
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 2035
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Maneuvering
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:35AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 23
Runway Length 4000
Runway Width 75
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --