Wilkes County Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Wilkesboro, North Carolina 28697
Tuesady, May 3, 1988 13:00 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

AFTER A NORMAL APPROACH AND LANDING, THE LEFT MAIN GEAR SLOWLY COLLAPSED DURING THE ROLL OUT. THE AIRCRAFT VEERED TO THE LEFT, STRUCK A SIGN OFF THE RUNWAY EDGE AND COLLIDED WITH A DITCH. THE LEFT MAIN GEAR WAS FOUND UNLOCKED DURING POSTACCIDENT INVESTIGATION. THE AIRCRAFT HAD UNDERGONE MAINTENANCE A SHORT TIME BEFORE.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 5/3/1988
Event Day of the Week Tuesday
Time of Event 1300
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City WILKESBORO
Event State NORTH CAROLINA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 28697
Event Date Year 1988
Event Date Month 5
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport WILKES COUNTY
Event Location Nearest Airport ID 1KB
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation 996
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1700 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID HKY
Elevation of weather observation facility 0
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 1800
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Unknown
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Broken
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 7
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 16
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 14
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 70
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 6
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 2
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 534
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date May 5 1988 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1445
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 36354
Date of most recent change to record Dec 13 2000 11:44AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N34GK
NTSB Number ATL88LA164
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed IFR
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name PIPER
Aircraft Model PA-31-325
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-31-325
Aircraft Serial Number 31 7712049
Certified Max Gross Weight 6500
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 8
Number of Engines 2
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection 100 Hour
Date of Last Inspection Apr 11 1988 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 19
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name GOLDEN AVIATON CO.
Aircraft Owner Street Address P.O. BOX 803
Aircraft Owner City WILKESBORO
Aircraft Owner State NC
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 28697
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name GOLDEN AVIATION COMPANY, INC.
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address POST OFFICE BOX 803
Operator City WILKESBORO
Operator State NC
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 28697
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) Executive/Corporate
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code LBT
Departure City LUMBERTON
Departure State NC
Departure Country
Departure Time 0
Departure Time Zone
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code 1KB
Destination City WILKESBORO
Destination State NC
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Landing
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 0
Runway Length 4250
Runway Width 75
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --