<TABLE> <S> <C>


<ARTICLE>     6
              
<CIK>         0000764860
              
<NAME>  FLAGSHIP NORTH CAROLINA DOUBLE TAX EXEMPT FUND
                                   
<SERIES>
                                   
<NUMBER>                           053
                                   
<NAME>                             CLASS C
                                   
<MULTIPLIER>                       1
                                   
                                   
                                   
<S>                                <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                      6-MOS
                                   
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                  MAY-31-1997
                                   
<PERIOD-START>                     JUN-01-1996
                                   
<PERIOD-END>                       NOV-30-1996
                                   
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST>              182,188,365
                                   
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE>             192,625,464
                                   
<RECEIVABLES>                      4,513,023
                                   
<ASSETS-OTHER>                     2,422,701
                                   
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS>               0
                                   
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                     199,561,188
                                   
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES>           3,283,814
                                   
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT>            0
                                   
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES>          1,246,164
                                   
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES>                4,529,978
                                   
<SENIOR-EQUITY>                    0
                                   
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON>           186,100,344
                                   
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK>              667,396
                                   
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR>              656,837
                                   
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT>          65,041
                                   
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII>             0
                                   
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS>            (1,571,274)
                                   
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS>           0
                                   
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC>           10,437,099
                                   
<NET-ASSETS>                       195,031,210
                                   
<DIVIDEND-INCOME>                  0
                                   
<INTEREST-INCOME>                  6,054,016
                                   
<OTHER-INCOME>                     0
                                   
<EXPENSES-NET>                     (930,688)
                                   
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME>            5,123,328
                                   
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT>           1,399,570
                                   
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT>          4,328,395
                                   
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS>              10,851,293
                                   
<EQUALIZATION>                     0
                                   
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME>          (157,443)
                                   
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS>           0
                                   
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER>              0
                                   
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD>            65,380
                                   
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED>        (64,692)
                                   
<SHARES-REINVESTED>                9,871
                                   
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS>             308,928
                                   
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR>            0
                                   
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR>          (2,970,844)
                                   
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR>            0
                                   
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR>         0
                                   
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<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                 0
                                   
<GROSS-EXPENSE>                    1,050,183
                                   
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS>               192,897,136
                                   
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN>              10.03
                                   
<PER-SHARE-NII>                    0.24
                                   
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC>            0.31
                                   
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND>               (0.24)
                                   
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS>          0.00
                                   
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL>               0.00
                                   
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END>                10.34
                                   
<EXPENSE-RATIO>                    1.51
                                   
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING>             279,387
                                   
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE>               0.01
                                   
        







</TABLE>