# Accident 20020314038489A: Piper PA32R300, Sanford, NC, March 14, 2002

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: March 14, 2002, 16:32 local time
- Place: Sanford, NC
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Normal Cruise
- Operating rules: Air taxi and commuter (Part 135)
- Operator: FFKA
- Location: 35.5122° N, 78.9778° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.5122&lon=-78.9778&mi=10
- Aircraft: N4451X, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4451X-2002-09-16) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-32R-300 (registry code 7103213, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32r-300) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming TI0-540 series (registry code 41533, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-ti0-540-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA32R300
- Reported engine: LYC TIO540*
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 1
- Pilot flight hours: 1,709 total, 600 in this make and model, 187 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB MIA02FA067](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA02FA067) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020314038489A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

(-23) ON MARCH 14, 2002, ABOUT 1630 EASTERN STANDARD TIME, A PIPER PA32R-300, N4451X, REGISTERED TO RAM AIR FREIGHT INC., A FAR 135 CARGO OPERATOR HAD AN IN-FLIGHT COLLISION WITH AN ANTENNA TOWER IN BROADWAY, NORTH CAROLINA, THE TOWER STOOD APPROXIMATELY 2122' MSL, 1749' AGL, AND WAS IDENTIFIED ON THE CHARLOTTE, NC SECTIONAL CHART. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED AT THE TIME. ON THE DAY OF THE ACCIDENT THE FLIGHT DEPARTED GREENVILLE NORTH CAROLINA AT 1545 AND WAS ENROUTE TO CONCORD NC WITH AN ETA OF APPROXIMATELY 1700. A FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED BUT WAS NOT ACTIVATED. THE COMMERCIAL AND INSTRUMENT-RATED PILOT, THE SOLE OCCUPANT OF THE AIRCRAFT RECEIVED FATAL INJURIES UPON CONTACT WITH THE TOWER, THE AIRCRAFT EXPLODED AND WAS DESTROYED.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB MIA02FA067](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA02FA067), Mar 14, 2002: Piper PA32R-300 (N4451X), Broadway, NC, destroyed, 1 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot's inadequate visual lookout and his failure to maintain obstacle clearance.

## Other reports on N4451X (1)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Incident 19960522044069I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960522044069I), May 22, 1996: Piper PA32R300 (N4451X), Chicago/West Ch, IL, Minor damage. Narrative: the pilot reported all electrical power was lost after the landing gear was retracted during departure. Aircraft sustained minor damage during…

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.