# NTSB ATL82FA039: Piper PA-28-180, N4583J, Blairsville, GA, January 18, 1982

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: January 18, 1982, 16:30 local (21:30 UTC)
- Place: Blairsville, GA
- Coordinates: 34.870227, -83.949249 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.8702&lon=-83.9492&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 3 fatal
- Status: Completed, report January 18, 1983
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 69976
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL82FA039
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/69976/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL82FA039

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, cruise
  - weather condition - clouds (contributing factor)
  - vfr flight into imc - continued, pilot in command (cause)
  - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor)
  - proper altitude - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - lack of total instrument time, pilot in command (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE AIRCRAFT DEPARTED ATLANTA, GA ON A FLIGHT WITH NO FLIGHT PLAN TO AN INTENDED FINAL DESTINATION OF MORRISTOWN, TN. HOWEVER, DURING A WEATHER BRIEFING, THE PILOT HAD INQUIRED ABOUT THE TRI-CITIES AIRPORT AT BRISTOL, TN. WHILE EN ROUTE, THE AIRCRAFT CRASHED ON UPWARD SLOPING TERRAIN ON THE EAST SIDE OF BLOOD MOUNTAIN. NEAR THE IMPACT POINT WITH THE GROUND, THE TREE TOPS WERE SEVERED ALONG A LINE WITH A ZERO ANGLE OF DECLINATION. THE ELEVATION OF THE CRASH SITE WAS ABOUT 3680 FT MSL. AT THE NEARBY MCGEE-TYSON AND TRI-CITIES AIRPORTS, THERE WERE OVERCAST SKY CONDITIONS WITH CEILINGS OF 1900 AND 1800 FT RESPECTIVELY; THE RESPECTIVE AIRPORT ELEVATIONS WERE 832 AND 1519 FT. THE NON-INSTRUMENT RATED PILOT HAD RECEIVED ABOUT FIVE HOURS OF INSTRUMENT FLIGHT TRAINING.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N4583J](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4583J-1982-11-22), registration cancelled 1982-11-22, S/N 28R-30453, built 1968 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28-180
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28R-180](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28r-180) (registry code 7102809) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 28R-30453
- Airframe hours: 1847
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-360-B-1E 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Worley M. Glover
- Registered owner: Worley M. Glover
- Departed: FTY, ATLANTA, GA
- Destination: MORRISTOWN, TN

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 34; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; flight hours: 162 total, 83 in this make and model, 96 as pilot in command, 20 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day

## 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 19820118001469A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19820118001469A), Jan 18, 1982: Piper PA28180, Blairsville, GA, Destroyed, 2 fatal. Struck trees on a cloud-obscured mountainside. Preflight briefing advised VFR flight not recommended.

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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