# NTSB ATL83AA305: Beech F35, Elkin, NC, August 1, 1983

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Final report
- Date: August 1, 1983, 13:05 local (17:05 UTC)
- Place: Elkin, NC
- Coordinates: 36.229217, -80.840499 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.2292&lon=-80.8405&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 3 fatal
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 5882
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL83AA305
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/5882/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL83AA305

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, cruise - normal
  - weather condition - thunderstorm (contributing factor)
  - flight into known adverse weather - continued, pilot in command (cause)
  - overconfidence in personal ability, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - lack of total instrument time, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- Loss of control - in flight, cruise - normal
  - weather condition - turbulence(thunderstorms) (contributing factor)
  - aircraft handling - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
- Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, descent - uncontrolled
  - wing - overload
  - design stress limits of aircraft - exceeded, pilot in command (cause)
  - wing - separation
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## 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 (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: BEECH F35
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: D-4092
- Airframe hours: 3202
- Engines: 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.

- Pilot; age 37; 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

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.