- Date
- August 1, 1983, 13:05 local (17:05 UTC)
- Place
- Elkin, NC
- Injuries
- 3 fatal
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- CGGHPBeech F35
- Weather
- Instrument (IMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Case key
- 5882
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
During his 1010 wx briefing for the proposed route of flt, the plt was advised that showers were expected in west Virginia & that it might not be possible to maintain VFR below clouds along the mountainous route. The briefer suggestedan alternate route further east. The plt, however, filed a VFR flt plan via the originally proposed western route. Witnesses heard eng sounds as the acft apparently approached a black cloud. The acft was not seen, however, until it spiraled out of the bottom of the black cloud with one wing missing. A few minutes after the accident, rain began falling & lightning was observed in the clouds. The 1305 tri-city, TN radar photograph showed thunderstorm activity near the accident site & a large area of thunderstorm activity west of the Elkin area.
Aircraft
- Registration
- CGGHP
- Reported as
- Beech F35
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- D-4092
- Airframe hours
- 3,202
- Engine
- Continental E-225-8, 225 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Fire
- On-Ground
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Peter Gordon Griffin
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · July 6, 1983 · 22 hours before
- Departed
- CLT · Charlotte, NC
- Destination
- PIT · Pittsburg, PA
- Flight plan
- VFR
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 37
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Left
- Toxicology
- Performed
- Flight hours
- 242 total · 25 in this make and model
Weather
- Conditions
- Instrument (IMC) · Day
- Visibility
- 15 statute miles