# NTSB ATL81FA100: Piper PA-24, N5472P, Center Grove, TN, July 23, 1981

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: July 23, 1981
- Place: Center Grove, TN · CENTER GROVE, TN
- Phase of flight: [Uncontrolled descent](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/650) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 4 fatal
- Status: Completed, report November 11, 1981
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 124622
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL81FA100
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL81FA100

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-1997  81/7/23  NR.CENTER GROVE,TN    PIPER PA-24         CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 37, 257
        TIME - 2252                    N5472P              PX-  3  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 3 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION         LAST ENROUTE STOP
          ARLINGTON,TX                ATLANTIC CITY,NJ             NASHVILLE,TN
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           AIRFRAME FAILURE: IN FLIGHT                              IN FLIGHT: UNCONTROLLED DESCENT
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - SPATIAL DISORIENTATION
           PILOT IN COMMAND - EXCEEDED DESIGNED STRESS LIMITS OF AIRCRAFT
        FACTOR(S)
           AIRFRAME - WINGS: SPARS
           AIRFRAME - FLIGHT CONTROL SURFACES: HORIZONTAL STABILIZER, ATTACHMENTS
           AIRFRAME - FUSELAGE: OTHER
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - OVERLOAD FAILURE
           WEATHER - TURBULENCE, ASSOCIATED W/CLOUDS AND/OR THUNDERSTORMS
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - SEPARATION IN FLIGHT
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY FLIGHT SERVICE PERSONNEL, IN PERSON
        WEATHER FORECAST - FORECAST SUBSTANTIALLY CORRECT
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          SCATTERED                                                UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          5 OR OVER(UNLIMITED)                                     NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          FOG                                                       69
        WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS                                      TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS
          CALM                                                     VFR
        TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          NONE
        REMARKS- L WING FAILED UPWARD,R WING & STABILATOR FAILED DWNWRD,EMPENNAGE DISINTEGRATED.DARK NGT.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N5472P](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5472P-2013-08-15), registration cancelled 2013-08-15, S/N 24-529, built 1958 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-24
- Registry model: [Piper PA-24-250](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-24-250) (registry code 7102404) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-540-series) (registry code 41532, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed

## 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 19810723044829A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19810723044829A), Jul 23, 1981: Piper PA24250, Center Grove, TN, Destroyed, 3 fatal. VFR pilot flew into area of known severe thunderstorms at night. Lost control. Airplane broke up in flight.

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.