# NTSB ATL80FA072: Piper PA-31P, N776SW, Charleston, SC, July 10, 1980

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: July 10, 1980
- Place: Charleston, SC · CHARLESTON, SC
- Location: 32.7766° N, 79.9309° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Charleston, SC, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.7766&lon=-79.9309&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal, 5 serious
- Status: Completed, report February 10, 1981
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 136426
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL80FA072
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL80FA072

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-3230  80/7/10    CHARLESTON,SC       PIPER PA-31P        CR-  1  1  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             AIRLINE TRANSPORT, AGE
        TIME - 0858                    N776SW              PX-  0  4  0  BUSINESS                  61, 12400 TOTAL HOURS,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            705 IN TYPE, INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - CHARLESTON INTL
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          CHARLESTON,SC               PADUCAH,KY
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           ENGINE FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION                            IN FLIGHT: NORMAL CRUISE
           COLLIDED WITH: TREES                                     LANDING: FINAL APPROACH
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           POWERPLANT - MISCELLANEOUS: POWERPLANT FAILURE FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS
           PILOT IN COMMAND - FAILED TO FOLLOW APPROVED PROCEDURES,DIRECTIVES,ETC.
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - IMPROPER EMERGENCY PROCEDURES
        COMPLETE POWER LOSS - COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURE/FLAMEOUT-1 ENGINE
        EMERGENCY CIRCUMSTANCES - FORCED LANDING OFF AIRPORT ON LAND
        REMARKS- UN REACH RWY.R ENG NOT FEATHERED.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N776SW](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N776SW-1982-03-03), registration cancelled 1982-03-03, S/N 31P-7730009 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-31P
- Registry model: [Piper PA-31P](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-31p) (registry code 7103120) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Airport: Charleston Intl

## 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 19800710040489A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19800710040489A), Jul 10, 1980: Piper PA31P, Charleston, SC, Destroyed. Power loss. Right engine at cruise. Returned. Struck trees short of runway. Feathered left engine, over gross.

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.

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