1990-08-02: Piper PA-18 — Oak Island Flight Academy — Southport, NC

Casualties unknown • Southport, NC, US

Probable cause

THE ENTRY INTO A FLAT SPIN WHICH PRECLUDED RECOVERY BY THE PILOT. THE REASON FOR THE SPIN BECOMING FLAT COULD NOT BE DETERMINED.

— NTSB Determination

Accident narrative

AFTER ENTERING AN INTENTIONAL SPIN MANEUVER, WITNESSES REPORTED THAT THE SPIN IMMEDIATELY BECAME 'FLAT'. THE SPIN CONTINUED FOR ABOUT 7 TO 8 TURNS PRIOR TO GROUND IMPACT. REPORTEDLY, THE NOSE DROPPED SLIGHTLY DURING THE LAST TURN OF THE SPIN. WEIGHT AND BALANCE CALCULATIONS INDICATE THAT THE AIRCRAFT SHOULD HAVE BEEN INSIDE UTILITY CATEGORY LIMITATIONS DURING THE ACCIDENT FLIGHT. THE REASON FOR THE SPIN BECOMING FLAT, AND THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO RECOVER CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE WAS NOT DETERMINED.

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 1990-08-02 Piper PA-18 accident near Southport, NC?

AFTER ENTERING AN INTENTIONAL SPIN MANEUVER, WITNESSES REPORTED THAT THE SPIN IMMEDIATELY BECAME 'FLAT'. THE SPIN CONTINUED FOR ABOUT 7 TO 8 TURNS PRIOR TO GROUND IMPACT. REPORTEDLY, THE NOSE DROPPED SLIGHTLY DURING THE LAST TURN OF THE SPIN. WEIGHT AND BALANCE CALCULATIONS INDICATE THAT THE AIRCRAFT SHOULD HAVE BEEN…

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 1990-08-02 involved a Piper PA-18, registration N9239T, operated by Oak Island Flight Academy, at Southport, NC.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

THE ENTRY INTO A FLAT SPIN WHICH PRECLUDED RECOVERY BY THE PILOT. THE REASON FOR THE SPIN BECOMING FLAT COULD NOT BE DETERMINED.

Investigation report by the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive. Original record: https://carol.ntsb.gov/event/20001212X23884. This page is a structured re-presentation; facts and quotes are in the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), United States.

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