# NTSB ATL82DA162: Piper PA-28-181, N80SA, Savannah, GA, June 13, 1982

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Final report
- Date: June 13, 1982, 15:45 local (19:45 UTC)
- Place: Savannah, GA
- Location: 32.0835° N, 81.0998° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Savannah, GA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.0835&lon=-81.0998&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 2 serious, 1 minor, 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report June 13, 1983
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 72561
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL82DA162
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/72561/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL82DA162

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- In flight encounter with weather, cruise - normal
  - comm/nav equipment,vhf transmitter/receiver - erratic (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - thunderstorm (contributing factor)
- Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, approach
  - became lost/disoriented - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
  - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause)
- Forced landing, approach
- In flight collision with object, approach - vfr pattern - final approach
  - object - tree(s) (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE PILOT OBTAINED A WEATHER BRIEFING AND FILED A VFR FLIGHT PLAN BEFORE TAKEOFF. HE WAS ADVISED THAT THE WEATHER WAS 6000 FT SCATTERED, 6 MILES VISIBILITY, POSSIBLE STORMS GATHERING AT PALATKA, FL. AFTER TAKEOFF, HE WAS UNABLE TO CONTACT THE FLIGHT SERVICE STATION TO ACTIVATE THE FLIGHT PLAN. WHILE ENROUTE, HE HAD TO DEVIATE TO AVOID WEATHER AND BECAME LOST. HE TRIED TO OBTAIN HELP BY USING HIS RADIO. BUT WAS UNABLE. HE FINALLY LOCATED AN AIRPORT (HUNTER AFB), THE ENGINE LOST POWER FROM FUEL EXHAUSTION BEFORE HE ARRIVED. HE ELECTED TO LAND ON A DIRT ROAD, BUT WAS UNABLE TO CLEAR THE TOPS OF THE TREES. THE PILOT GUIDED THE PLANE BETWEEN TWO TREES AS HE CRASH LANDED.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N80SA](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N80SA-2013-06-05), registration cancelled 2013-06-05, S/N 28-8090194, built 1979 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28-181
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28-181](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-181) (registry code 7102807) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming O&VO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (registry code 41514, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 28-8090194
- Airframe hours: 1500
- Engines: LYCOMING O-360-A4M 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Shields Aviation
- Registered owner: Shields Aviation
- Departed: CEDAR KEYS, FL
- Destination: JACKSONVILLE, FL
- Flight plan: VFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 53; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; flight hours: 96 total, 11 in this make and model, 52 as pilot in command, 5 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Visibility: 5 statute miles

## 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 19820613022099A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19820613022099A), Jun 13, 1982: Piper PA28181, Savannah, GA, Destroyed. Aircraft crashed during precautionary landing in area of thunderstorms when fuel exhausted.

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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