# NTSB ATL83AA285: Piper PA-31P, N234LC, Lost Creek, WV, July 20, 1983

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Final report
- Date: July 20, 1983, 10:40 local (14:40 UTC)
- Place: Lost Creek, WV
- Coordinates: 39.149333, -80.349807 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.1493&lon=-80.3498&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 4 fatal
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 5881
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL83AA285
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/5881/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL83AA285

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power, climb - to cruise
  - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause)
- Forced landing, approach
  - aircraft weight and balance - exceeded, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with object, approach
  - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - fog (contributing factor)
  - object - wire,transmission (contributing factor)
  - object - tree(s) (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

THE ACFT TOOK OFF WITH 4 OCCUPANTS & AN ESTIMATED 596 LBS OF CARGO ON BOARD. AFTER IT TOOK OFF, THE ATC CONTROLLER NOTED THAT IT WAS CLIMBING SLOWER THAN EXPECTED. AFTER CLIMBING TO ABOUT 4200 FT MSL, THE AIRCREW REPORTED A PROBLEM WITH THE LEFT ENG & SAID THEY DID NOT BELIEVE THEY COULD MAKE IT BACK TO THE DEPARTURE ARPT. THEY EXPRESSED A DESIRE TO CONTINUE TOWARD THE SOUTHWEST. ATC PROCEEDED TO VECTOR THEM TO THE WESTON ARPT, BUT INFORMED THEM THAT IT HAD NO INSTRUMENT APCH. AFTER THE REPORTED ENG MALFUNCTION, ATC PERSONNEL NOTED THAT THE ACFT CONTINUED IN A GRADUAL LEFT TURN. ABOUT 8 MIN AFTER TAKEOFF, RADIO CONTACT WAS LOST. A WITNESS ON THE GROUND SAW THE ACFT COME OVER A HILL WITH THE SOUND OF AN ENG AT HI POWER. AT ABOUT THAT TIME, THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH A POWER LINE CABLE, THEN CRASHEDINTO 2 TREES, IMPACTED THE GROUND & BURNED. AN EXAM OF THE WRECKAGE REVEALED NO SIGNIFICANT PREIMPACT FAILURES. THE ACFTWAS ESTIMATED TO BE APRX 400 LBS OVER ITS MAX CERTIFICATED GROSS WT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N234LC (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-31P
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 31P7400178
- Airframe hours: 2835
- Engines: LYCOMING TIGO-541-E1A 425 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Business, Part 91
- Registered owner: Tenson Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, July 30, 1982, 134 hours before
- Departed: CLARKSBURG, WV
- Destination: MEMPHIS, TN
- Flight plan: IFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 49; commercial, airline transport, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: right; toxicology performed; flight hours: 18,900 total, 2,400 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day
- Wind: 170° at 8 knots
- Lowest ceiling: 300 ft
- Temperature: 81 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: CKB, 5 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 19830720033869A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19830720033869A), Jul 20, 1983: Piper PA31P, Lost Creek, WV, Destroyed, 2 fatal. Aircraft crashed 4 minutes after takeoff. Pilot had made radio transmission that left engine had failed.

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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