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ATL94FA024

1993-11-28 · MOUNT AIRY, North Carolina, United States · Fatal · 1 aircraft · Status: Completed

Airport MWK

Aircraft involved

Probable cause & findings

THE PILOT'S IMPROPER DECISION TO LAND DOWNWIND, FAILURE TO CONTROL THE AIRCRAFT ON THE GROUND, AND HIS DECISION TO ABORT THE LANDING AFTER LOSS OF CONTROL AND DAMAGE TO THE AIRCRAFT ON THE GROUND. A FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT WAS THE GUSTY TAIL WIND AT THE TIME OF LANDING.

Factual narrative

HISTORY OF FLIGHT

On November 28, 1993, at about 1700 eastern standard time, a Piper PA-28-180, N7950W, was substantially damaged following a collision with terrain and a residence near Mount Airy, North Carolina. The private pilot and one passenger were seriously injured, and one passenger was fatally injured in the accident. One occupant of the residence received minor injuries. The aircraft was being operated under 14 CFR Part 91 by the pilot. Visual meteorological conditions existed at the time,and no flight plan had been filed for the personal flight. The flight departed Salisbury, North Carolina, at about 1600. The pilot stated that upon arrival at the Mount Airy Airport, he made a low pass over the airport to attempt to determine the wind direction. He said that he then attempted a landing on Runway 18. Being unfamiliar with the airport, he said that he landed with a higher than normal airspeed (about 85 Knots indicated airspeed). He stated that after touchdown, the wind carried the aircraft off the right side of the runway and through a ditch between the runway and the taxiway. He stated he then applied power and became airborne again. After becoming airborne, he stated that his right seat passenger informed him that the aircraft was leaking fuel at an alarming rate from the right fuel tank. He stated that he lost control of the aircraft and could not remember what happened after that.(See Record of Interview attached to this report.) Witnesses stated that the aircraft landed on Runway 18. They observed the aircraft veer off the runway to the right and then take off again. The aircraft entered a left turn and headed toward the north. The pilot of the aircraft called "Mayday" over the local radio frequency prior to the accident. The witnesses stated that the nose of the aircraft seemed to rise and fall several times prior to the accident. The witness stated that the aircraft disappeared behind the trees, and they heard the impact.(See Witness Statements attached to this report.) The aircraft impacted a residence approximately 1/2 mile east of the runway.

PERSONNEL INFORMATION

The pilot, Mr. James M Jewell, held a private pilot certificate with airplane single engine land rating issued October 23, 1989. He held a third class medical certificate dated October 15, 1993. According to Federal Aviation Administration records, Mr. Jewell had a total of 180 hours of flight time at the time of his medical certificate issued on October 15, 1993. Additional Personnel Information may be obtained in this report on page 2 under the section titled First Pilot Information.

AIRCRAFT INFORMATION

The Piper PA-28-180 Cherokee is a single engine, fixed tricycle gear airplane. It is powered by a Lycoming O-360-A3A 180 horse power engine. Additional aircraft information may be obtained in this report on page 2 under the section titled Aircraft Information.

METEOROLOGICAL INFORMATION

Visual meteorological conditions existed at the time of the accident. According to witnesses in the area, the wind was gusting between 10 and 15 nautical miles per hour from the northwest at the time of the accident. Additional meteorological information may be obtained in this report on page 2 under the section titled Weather Information.

WRECKAGE AND IMPACT INFORMATION

There were rubber skid marks on Runway 18 which began approximately 1500 feet from the approach end of the runway and extended 75 feet in a right curving arc to the west edge of the runway surface. In the grass, on the right side of Runway 18, corresponding with the marks on the runway, there were skid marks approximately 100 feet in length. Approximately 20 feet west from the edge of the runway, in the direction of the skid marks, there were 10 horizontal slash marks in the sod approximately 6 inches in depth. At the end of the skid marks, located in a ditch between the runway and the taxiway west of the runway, there was a rock wall approximately two feet in height. Some of the rocks had been dislocated and dispersed in the direction of the taxiway. The aircraft right main landing gear was located on the taxiway. The aircraft impacted a residence approximately 1/2 mile east of the runway. The impact direction was approximately 360 degrees. The nose and cabin section of the aircraft were protruding out the north side of the residence. Both left and right wings were located protruding out the south side of the residence. The tail section was located inside the residence. Both the left and right wings were separated from the fuselage at the point where the wings attach to the fuselage. The left wing leading edge had a rectangular indention approximately 2 1/2 feet in length and 1 foot in depth, which began approximately 3 feet inboard of the wing tip. The right wing had leading edge crush damage extending from the wing tip inboard to the wing root. Both wings had beige paint transfer marks on the leading edge, which matched the color of the residence exterior paint. Both left and right flaps were in the 25 degree extended position. There was continuity of the control cables from the ailerons to the point of cable separation at the wing roots. The empennage was attached to the airframe, and there was continuity of controls into the cockpit area. The propeller showed signs of chordwise scratching and twisting toward low pitch.

MEDICAL AND PATHOLOGICAL INFORMATION

The toxicological report for Mr. Jewell was negative for the presence of ethanol and drugs.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

A copy of NTSB form 6120.1/2 Pilot/Operator Report of Aircraft Accident/Incident was delivered to Mr. Jewell by Investigator Sasser on November 30, 1993. Mr. Jewell was instructed to complete the report and deliver the report to the National Transportation Safety Board, Atlanta Field Office. As of the date of this report, the completed report has not been delivered. The aircraft was released to Mr. Robert Paul of the Crittenden Adjustment Company, who represented the owners insurance company. THE PILOT MADE A DOWNWIND LANDING AND THE AIRCRAFT VEERED OFF THE RUNWAY TO THE RIGHT. THERE WERE 10 HORIZONTAL SLASH MARKS, MADE IN THE SOD BY THE AIRCRAFT PROPELLER, LOCATED 20 FEET OFF THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY. THE AIRCRAFT THEN IMPACTED A ROCK WALL AT THE BOTTOM OF A DRAINAGE DITCH LOCATED BETWEEN THE TAXIWAY AND THE RUNWAY, WHERE THE RIGHT MAIN LANDING GEAR WAS SEPARATED FROM THE AIRCRAFT. THE PILOT THEN DECIDED TO ABORT THE LANDING, ADDED POWER, AND MANAGED TO BECOME AIRBORNE. THE AIRCRAFT WAS OBSERVED TO BE TURNING TO THE LEFT, AND IN A NOSE DOWN ATTITUDE AS IT DISAPPEARED FROM VIEW. THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED A RESIDENCE APPROXIMATELY 1/2 MILE EAST OF THE RUNWAY. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_1993_ATL94FA024.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

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