# NTSB ATL82FA065: Piper PA-28-180, N9783J, Taylorville, NC, March 6, 1982

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: March 6, 1982, 17:25 local (22:25 UTC)
- Place: Taylorville, NC
- Coordinates: 35.92065, -81.169197 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.9207&lon=-81.1692&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Emergency descent](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/600) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal, 2 serious
- Status: Completed, report March 6, 1983
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 72796
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL82FA065
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/72796/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL82FA065

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, descent - emergency
  - fuel supply - inattentive, pilot in command (cause)
  - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause)
  - delayed, pilot in command (cause)
- Forced landing, landing - flare/touchdown
- In flight collision with terrain/water, landing - flare/touchdown
  - light condition - dusk (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE AIRCRAFT DEPARTED AKRON, NY AT 1154 EST ON A FLIGHT TO CHARLOTTE,NC. TOWARD LATE AFTERNOON, AS THE SUN BEGAN TO SET, ONE OF THE PASSENGERS (THE PILOT'S DAUGHTER), INFORMED THE PILOT THAT THE AIRCRAFT WAS GETTING LOW ON FUEL. HE DIVERTED TOWARD AN AIRPORT, BUT BEFORE ARRIVING, THE ENGINE LOST POWER AND THE AIRCRAFT CRASHED DURING AN EMERGENCY LANDING. AN EXAMINATION OF THE FUEL SYSTEM REVEALED NO INDICATION OF A FUEL LEAK. THE ENGINE WAS EXAMINED AND NO PREEXISTING MALFUNCTIONS WERE NOTED. REPORTELY, THE AIRCRAFT HAD BEEN SERVICE WITH A FULL LOAD OF FUEL (50 GAL CAPACITY) BEFORE TAKEOFF. IT HAD BEEN OPERATED FOR 5 HRS AND 24 MIN BEFORE CRASHING. THE PERFORMANCE CHARTS SHOWED THAT IT WOULD CRUISE ABOUT 5 HRS AT 75% POWER OR ABOUT 6.8 HRS AT 55% POWER.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N9783J](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9783J-2013-07-29), registration cancelled 2013-07-29, S/N 28-3984, built 1967 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28-180
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28-180](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-180) (registry code 7102808) (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: 28-3984
- Airframe hours: 1258
- Engines: LYCOMING O-360-A4A 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: M.L. Salehorn
- Registered owner: M.L. Salehorn
- Departed: C, AKRON, NY
- Destination: C, CHARLOTTE, NC
- Flight plan: IFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 40; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; flight hours: 412 total, 5 in this make and model, 298 as pilot in command, 17 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dusk
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 10,000 ft broken

## 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 19820306070629A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19820306070629A), Mar 6, 1982: Piper PA28180, Taylorsville, NC, Substantial damage. Passenger noted low fuel state on long cross country. Fuel exhaustion during vector to airport. Impacted ground.

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.