Gastonia Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Gastonia, North Carolina 28052
Monday, May 9, 1983 12:15 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE ACFT STALLED INTO THE GROUND JUST SHORT OF THE RWY AND COLLAPSED THE NOSE GEAR. THE PILOT WAS FLYING FROM THE RIGHT SEAT SO HIS FEMALE PASSENGER COULD USE THE MORE ADJUSTABLE LEFT SEAT. THE PILOT STATED THAT AT 70 KTS ON FINAL APPROACH FOR A LANDING THE ACFT STARTED TO SETTLE AND THE AIRSPEED TO DECAY. HE SAID HE WAS USING 30 DEGREES OF FLAPS BUT AFTER THE ACCIDENT THE FLAPS WERE UP WITH THE HANDLE DOWN. WHEN THE AIRSPEED STARTED TO DECAY HE ADVANCED THE THROTTLE. BEFORETHE ENGINE COULD RESPOND THE PILOT SAID SOMETHING CAUSED THE ACFT TO PITCH UP AND HE INADVERTANTLY PULLED THE THROTTLE OUT (RETARDED IT). THE STALL WARNING CAME ON. HE PUSHED THE THROTTLE BACK IN AND LOWERED THE NOSE AND THE ACFT HIT ON THE NOSE GEAR ABOUT 60 FT SHORT OF THE RWY. THE NOSE GEAR COLLAPSED AND THE ACFT SKIDDED ONTO AND VEERED OFF OF THE RWY.NEITHER OF THE 2 OCCUPANTS WERE USING THE AVAILABLE SHOULDER HARNESS AND BOTH SUSTAINED HEAD INJURIES.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 5/9/1983
Event Day of the Week Monday
Time of Event 1215
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City GASTONIA
Event State NORTH CAROLINA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 28052
Event Date Year 1983
Event Date Month 5
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport GASTONIA
Event Location Nearest Airport ID 0A6
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 803
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Pilot
Time of the weather observation 0
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID
Elevation of weather observation facility 0
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation
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) 7
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 22
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 30
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 5
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 10
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Serious
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious 2
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1387
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time 0
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 21681
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 9:15AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N5324K
NTSB Number ATL83FA182
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 CESSNA
Aircraft Model 172P
Aircraft Series Identifier 172P
Aircraft Serial Number 17274065
Certified Max Gross Weight 2400
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 Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection 100 Hour
Date of Last Inspection Apr 15 1983 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 0
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name CARO WINGS FLIGHT SERVICE INC.
Aircraft Owner Street Address P.O. BOX 2064
Aircraft Owner City GASTONIA
Aircraft Owner State NC
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 28052
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address
Operator City
Operator State
Operator Country
Operator Zip code
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 No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 0
Departure Time Zone
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 Approach
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:36AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 3
Runway Length 3500
Runway Width 100
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --