# NTSB ATL82FA047: Piper PA-32R-300, N75225, Lambsburg, VA, February 5, 1982

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: February 5, 1982, 14:12 local (19:12 UTC)
- Place: Lambsburg, VA
- Coordinates: 36.579971, -80.760978 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.5800&lon=-80.7610&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 4 fatal
- Status: Completed, report February 5, 1983
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 71346
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL82FA047
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/71346/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL82FA047

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, cruise
  - instructions,written/verbal - not followed, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - lack of total experience in type operation, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - self-induced pressure, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - fog (contributing factor)
  - vfr flight into imc - continued, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, cruise
  - terrain condition - mountainous/hilly (contributing factor)
  - terrain condition - rising (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE AIRCRAFT WAS ON AN AIR TAXI FLIGHT TO TRANSPORT 2 PRISONERS AND WAS TO BE OPERATED ON A VFR FLIGHT PLAN IN VFR CONDITIONS ONLY. PRIOR TO TAKEOFF, THE PILOT HAD OBTAINED 12 WEATHER BRIEFING. IN 2 OF THE BRIEFINGS, VFR FLIGHT WAS NOT RECOMMENDED. AT ABOUT 1338, HE DEPARTED FROM WINSTON-SALEM IN VFR CONDITIONS ON A FLIGHT TO KNOXVILLE, TN. WITNESSES, SOUTH OF THE CRASH SITE, REPORTED SEEING THE AIRCRAFT HEADING NORTH NEAR INTERSTATE HIGHWAY I-77. THEY REPORTED THE ENGINE WAS STEADY AND LOUD. ONE WITNESS STATED THAT THE PLANE WAS FLYING AT ABOUT 200 FT AGL, WELL BELOW THE MOUNTAINS AHEAD. REPORTEDLY, THERE WAS FOG IN THE AREA AND THE HIGHER ELEVATIONS WERE COMPLETELY OBSCURED BY FOG. ONE OR TWO MINUTES LATER THEY HEARD THE CRASH. AN INVESTIGATION REVEALED THE PLANE HAD IMPACTED THE SIDE OF A MOUNTAIN WHILE IN LEVEL FLIGHT, THEN BURNED. NO EVIDENCE OF PREIMPACT MALFUNCTION/FAILURE OR FOUL PLAY WAS FOUND. THE PILOT HAD RECENTLY BEEN HIRED AND THIS WAS ONLY HIS SECOND FLIGHT AS PILOT-IN-COMMAND WITH THIS COMPANY.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N75225](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N75225-2013-05-08), registration cancelled 2013-05-08, S/N 32R-7680280, built 1976 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-32R-300
- Registry model: [Piper PA-32R-300](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32r-300) (registry code 7103213) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming TI0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-ti0-540-series) (registry code 41533, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 32R-7680280
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-540-K1G5D 300 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Part 135
- Operator: Air Security Transport Corpora
- Registered owner: Air Security Transport Corpora
- Departed: INT, WINSTON SALEM, NC
- Destination: TYS, KNOXVILLE, TN

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 37; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; flight hours: 600 total, 65 in this make and model, 338 as pilot in command, 80 in the last 30 days, 7 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day
- Temperature: 104 °F

## 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 19820205002929A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19820205002929A), Feb 5, 1982: Piper PA32R300, Lambsburg, VA, Destroyed, 3 fatal. Flew into side of fog-shrouded ridge while attempting to follow a highway in rising mountain terrain.

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.