# NTSB ATL03LA011: Piper PA-28R-200, N15704, Laurel Bloomery, TN, October 31, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: October 31, 2002, 09:50 local (14:50 UTC) - Place: Laurel Bloomery, TN - Coordinates: 36.566112, -81.766113 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.5661&lon=-81.7661&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report July 23, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA Nashville FSDO - 03 - NTSB case key (mKey): 55993 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL03LA011 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/55993/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL03LA011 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain clearance with terrain, which resulted in an inflight collision with mountainous terrain. Factors were the pilot's inadequate preflight planning and failure to obtain weather information, which resulted in an inflight encounter with adverse weather. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight encounter with weather, cruise - weather condition - clouds - weather service - not obtained, pilot in command (contributing factor) - weather condition - icing conditions - preflight planning/preparation - inadequate, pilot in command (contributing factor) - In flight collision with terrain/water, maneuvering - terrain condition - mountainous/hilly - clearance - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - object - tree(s) ## Analysis The pilot was in visual cruise flight over mountainous terrain at 6,500 feet when he noticed clouds building at 5,000 feet and decided to return to the airport. The pilot descended through a half- to one-mile gap in the clouds, and, at 4,500 feet, clear ice began to form rapidly on the airplane. The pilot descended to 2,500 feet in a mountain valley and the airframe ice began melting. The pilot then initiated a climb to clear a ridgeline, but the airplane collided with trees and caught fire. The pilot reported no mechanical malfunctions with the airplane. Recorded weather data revealed low ceilings in the vicinity throughout the morning. The pilot stated he did not obtain a weather briefing. ## Factual narrative On October 31, 2002, at 0950 eastern standard time, a Piper PA-28R-200, N15704, registered to Dorsch Aviation, LLC, and operated by the private pilot, collided with mountainous terrain while maneuvering in the vicinity of Laurel Bloomery, Tennessee. The personal flight was operated under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91 and visual flight rules. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The pilot received minor injuries, and the airplane was destroyed by post-collision fire. The flight originated from Smith Reynolds Airport in Winston Salem, North Carolina, at 0900. The pilot stated he departed Winston Salem, North Carolina, with the intention of practicing flight maneuvers in the local area. Once airborne, he decided instead to proceed northwest to Abingdon, Virginia, at 6,500 feet mean sea level (msl). The pilot stated he tuned in the Virginia Highlands Airport, Abingdon, Virginia, UNICOM frequency and could hear other pilots in the pattern at the airport. Approximately 30 miles east of Abingdon, Virginia, the pilot noticed clouds building at 5,000 feet msl, and he elected to turn around and go back to Winston Salem, North Carolina. The pilot stated he descended the airplane through a half- to one-mile gap in the clouds, and, at 4,500 feet msl, he noticed clear ice began to form rapidly on the airplane. He turned on the pitot heat and continued his descent to 2,500 msl. As the airplane continued the descent, the pilot observed ice melting off the airframe. The pilot stated his flight altitude was low for the mountainous terrain, and he maneuvered the airplane to remain within valleys. The pilot stated he saw a ridgeline in his flight path and initiated a climb at 600 to 700 feet per minute. The airplane collided with trees at the top of the rising terrain and caught fire. The pilot exited the cabin, sought shelter under a separated piece of wreckage, and contacted rescue personnel via his cell phone and transceiver. At 1830, the pilot was rescued. Examination of the accident site disclosed that the wreckage was located approximately 10 feet below the top of Pond Mountain. The left wing was separated, and the main wreckage was consumed by post-collision fire. The pilot reported no mechanical malfunctions. At 1000, recorded weather data for Virginia Highlands Airport, Abingdon, Virginia, reported winds at 250 degrees at 4 knots, skies overcast at 1,900 feet, visibility 10 statute miles, temperature 5 degrees Celsius, dew point 3 degrees Celsius, altimeter 30.13" Hg. The pilot stated he did not obtain a preflight weather briefing. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N15704](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N15704-2005-02-25), registration cancelled 2005-02-25, S/N 28R-7335083, built 1972 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-28R-200 - Registry model: [Piper PA-28R-200](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28r-200) (registry code 7102811) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming I0360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-series) (registry code 41515, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 73-35083 - Airframe hours: 6870 - Engines: Lycoming IO-360 C1C 200 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, June 20, 2002, 107 hours before - Departed: INT, Laurel Bloomery, TN - Destination: VJI, Abingdon, VA - Airport: VJI, Virginia Highlands ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 69; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review June 13, 2001; seat: left; flight hours: 300 total, 108 in this make and model, 188 as pilot in command, 45 in the last 90 days, 9 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 250° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 1,900 ft broken - Temperature: 41 °F, dew point 37 °F - Altimeter: 30.12 inHg - Observed at: KVJI, 30 nm away ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20021031032759A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20021031032759A), Oct 31, 2002: Piper PA28R200, Mountain City, TN, Destroyed. (.19) On October 31, 2002, at 0950 eastern standard time, a Piper PA-28R-200, N15704, registered to dorsch aviation, LLC, and operated by the private pilot,… 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. --- 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.