# NTSB ATL81FA103: Piper PA-31T, N47CC, Richlands, VA, July 29, 1981

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: July 29, 1981
- Place: Richlands, VA · RICHLANDS, VA
- Location: 37.0880° N, 81.8104° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Richlands, VA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.0880&lon=-81.8104&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 3 fatal
- Status: Completed, report January 7, 1982
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 124098
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL81FA103
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL81FA103

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-2968  81/7/29  NR.RICHLANDS,VA       PIPER PA-31T        CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             COMMERCIAL, AGE 50, 11000
        TIME - 1030                    N47CC               PX-  2  0  0  CORP/EXEC                 TOTAL HOURS, UNK/NR IN
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            TYPE, INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION         LAST ENROUTE STOP
          BIRMINGHAM,AL              RICHLANDS,VA                  ASHEBORO,NC
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: CONTROLLED                  IN FLIGHT: DESCENDING
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - IMPROPER IFR OPERATION
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - LOW CEILING
           WEATHER - FOG
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFING RECEIVED-METHOD UNKNOWN
        WEATHER FORECAST - UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          OVERCAST                                                  1200
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          5 OR OVER(UNLIMITED)                                     NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          FOG                                                       66
        WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES                                   WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
          280                                                       5
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          VFR                                                      IFR
        REMARKS- NO PUBLISHED INST APCH AT DEST.CX IFR,HIT OBSCURED MTN RIDGE APRX 1 MIN LATER.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N47CC](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N47CC-1983-05-23), registration cancelled 1983-05-23, S/N 31T-7820016 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-31T
- Registry model: [Piper PA-31T](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-31t) (registry code 7103124) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: turbo prop
- 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 19810729046399A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19810729046399A), Jul 29, 1981: Piper PA31T, Richlands, VA, Destroyed, 2 fatal. Cancelled IFR, began visual descent to destination. Struck trees on top of a cloud-obscured mountain.

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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