# NTSB ATL81FA094: Piper PA-31P, N7318L, Wilmington, NC, July 11, 1981

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: July 11, 1981
- Place: Wilmington, NC · WILMINGTON, NC
- Location: 34.2257° N, 77.9447° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Wilmington, NC, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.2257&lon=-77.9447&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report November 24, 1981
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 124470
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL81FA094
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL81FA094

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-2094  81/7/11  NR.WILMINGTON,NC      PIPER PA-31P        CR-  1  0  0  MISCELLANEOUS             AIRLINE TRANSPORT, AGE
        TIME - 1513                    N7318L              PX-  0  0  0  DEMONSTRATION             36, 2453 TOTAL HOURS,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            UNK/NR IN TYPE,
                                                                                                   INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - NEW HANOVER
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          FAYETTEVILLE,NC            WILMINGTON,NC
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           STALL                                                    IN FLIGHT: OTHER
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - CONTINUED FLIGHT INTO KNOWN AREAS OF SEVERE TURBULENCE
           PILOT IN COMMAND - FAILED TO OBTAIN/MAINTAIN FLYING SPEED
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - LOW CEILING
           WEATHER - RAIN
           WEATHER - FOG
           WEATHER - UNFAVORABLE WIND CONDITIONS
           WEATHER - TURBULENCE, ASSOCIATED W/CLOUDS AND/OR THUNDERSTORMS
           WEATHER - THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY
        WEATHER BRIEFING - OTHER
        WEATHER FORECAST - FORECAST SUBSTANTIALLY CORRECT
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          OBSCURATION                                               800
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          3/4 MILE OR LESS                                          RAIN, THUNDERSTORM
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          FOG                                                       76
        WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES                                   WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
          100                                                       16
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          IFR                                                      IFR
         FIRE AFTER IMPACT
        REMARKS- CLRD FOR VOR APCH TO RWY 34 OR LND RWY 23.TSTMS & LIGHTNING IN VCNTY OF ACDNT.WND GSTG 27KTS.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N7318L](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7318L-1984-11-01), registration cancelled 1984-11-01, S/N 31P-71 (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: New Hanover

## 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 19810711042999A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19810711042999A), Jul 11, 1981: Piper PA31P, Wilmington, NC, Destroyed. Flew into trees on VOR approach to airport. Thunderstorms in area. Stall warning heard on open microphone.

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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