# Accident 20080729849269A: Piper PA23, Highlands, NC, July 29, 2008

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: July 29, 2008, 14:53 local time
- Place: Highlands, NC
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Normal Cruise
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 35.0075° N, 83.2103° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.0075&lon=-83.2103&mi=10
- Aircraft: N1180P, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1180P-2018-01-10) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-23 (registry code 7102302, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-23) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming 0-320 series (registry code 41508, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA23
- Reported engine: LYC O360A1D
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 2
- Pilot flight hours: 0 total, 0 in this make and model, 0 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB NYC08FA260](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC08FA260) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20080729849269A

## Narrative

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

(-23) JULY 29, 2008, N1180P, PA-23 DEPARTED FROM LOUISVILLE-BOWMAN AIRPORT, KENTUCKY.  WHILE FLYING OVER THE WESTERN SECTION OF NORTH CAROLINA NEAR HIGHLANDS, NORTH CAROLINA WHEN TURBULANCE WAS ENCOUNTERED.  THUNDERSTORMS WERE NOTED IN THE IMMEDIATE AREA.  THE PILOT WAS IN COMMUNICATION WITH AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL WHICH WAS GIVING THE PILOT DIRECTIONS TO DEVIATE AROUND THE WEATHER.  THE AIRCRAFT CRASHED IN A MOUNTAINOUS AND WOODED AREA.  THE MAIN PART OF THE WRECKAGE WAS LOCATED APPROXIMATELY 75 FEET OFF OF CLEAR CREEK ROAD IN HIGHLANDS, NORTH CAROLINA.  COORDINATES OF THE MAIN ACCIDENT SITE AND SECONDARY SITES: MAIN WRECKAGE [N35:00.456; W083:12.623], LEFT ENGINE [N35:00.413; W083:12.794], LEFT WING (OUTBOARD) [N35:00.528; W083:12.648].

## 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 NYC08FA260](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC08FA260), Jul 29, 2008: Piper PA-23 (N1180P), Highlands, NC, substantial damage, 2 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot's improper decision to fly into an area of thunderstorms, which resulted in an in-flight breakup. Contributing to the accident was the air traffic controller's failure to comply with FAA…

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.

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