# NTSB ATL83AA029: Piper PA-31-350, N59771, Brevard, NC, November 12, 1982

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Final report
- Date: November 12, 1982, 05:14 local (10:14 UTC)
- Place: Brevard, NC
- Coordinates: 35.230247, -82.729049 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.2302&lon=-82.7290&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report November 12, 1983
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 70025
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL83AA029
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/70025/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL83AA029

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - normal
  - comm/nav equipment - inoperative (contributing factor)
  - maintenance - not performed, company maintenance personnel (contributing factor)
  - operation with known deficiencies in equipment - attempted, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - company-induced pressure, company/operator management (contributing factor)
  - light condition - dark night (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor)
  - missed approach - performed, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - ifr procedure - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - flight/navigation instrument(s) - improper use of, pilot in command (cause)
  - company-induced pressure, company/operator management (contributing factor)
  - excessive workload (task overload), pilot in command (contributing factor)

## Analysis

AFTER A MISSED APPROACH AT ASHEVILLE THE FLT WAS CLEARED TO THE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG ARPT AT GREER,SC. ENROUTE TO GREER RADAR CONTACT WAS LOST. IN RESPONSE TO A QUERY FROM ATLANTA ARTCC THE PLT VERIFIED HIS POSITION AS BEING ON THE 235 DEG RADIAL OF SPARTANBURG VOR & 11.9 MI SW. HE WAS THEN CLEARED TO DESCEND TO 2700 FT & EXECUTE AN ILS APCH. THE ACFT IMPACTED A MOUNTAIN AT THE 3200 FT LEVEL. THE WRECKAGE WAS FOUND ON THE 235 DEG RADIAL OF THE SUGARLOAF MOUNTAIN VORTAC & AT 24 MI. REVIEW OF THE ACFT'S LOGBOOK REVEALED THAT MECHANICAL IRREGULARITIES REPORTED WERE NOT CORRECTED FOR LONG PERIODS OF TIME. NO CORRECTIVE ACTION WAS LISTED FOR AN "OUTER MARKER INOP AURAL & VISUAL (NEEDS TO BE FIXED NOW, SINCE ADF IS ALSO INOP)." & "LIGHT IN #2 VOR HEAD OUT.". THE MARKER BEACON WAS DESCRIBED AS INOPERATIVE ON 3 DATES BEGINNING 8/22/81, & THE ADF WAS DESCRIBED AS INOPERATIVE ON 7 DATES BEGINNING 5/8/81. NO CORRECTIVE ACTION WAS LISTED FOR ANY ENTRY ABOUT THE MARKER BEACON OR ADF.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N59771](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N59771-2013-03-26), registration cancelled 2013-03-26, S/N 31-7652041, built 1975 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-31-350
- Registry model: [Piper PA-31-350](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-31-350) (registry code 7103110) (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: 31-7652041
- Airframe hours: 5131
- Engines: LYCOMING TIO-540-J2BD 350 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Part 135
- Operator: Hill-Williford Aviation
- Registered owner: Crabtree Aviation Company
- Departed: CMH, COLUMBUS, OH
- Destination: AVL, ASHEVILLE, NC
- Flight plan: IFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 25; airline transport, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; flight hours: 3,300 total, 900 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 180° at 17 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 1,500 ft overcast
- Temperature: 136 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: AVL, 19 nm away

## 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 19821112058549A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19821112058549A), Nov 12, 1982: Piper PA31350, Brevard, NC, Destroyed. Struck mountainside during misplaced approach procedure. Adf and marker beacon inop. Indicates receiving wrong VOR.

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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