# NTSB ATL83FA145: Piper PA-34-200T, N5885V, Roanoke, VA, March 27, 1983

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: March 27, 1983, 11:54 local (16:54 UTC)
- Place: Roanoke, VA
- Coordinates: 37.309181, -79.899353 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.3092&lon=-79.8994&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 5 fatal
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 5901
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL83FA145
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/5901/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL83FA145

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, approach
  - planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - fog (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - rain (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - below approach/landing minimums (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with object, maneuvering
  - missed approach - performed, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - fluid,fuel - low level (contributing factor)
  - fuel supply - inadequate, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - object - tree(s) (contributing factor)
  - proper altitude - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

THE ACFT WAS ON A X-COUNTRY FROM BUFFALO, NY TO NEW PORT RICHEY, FL. THE PLT MADE AN EN ROUTE STOP AT PAINSVILLE, OH, THEN PROCEEDED TOWARD GREENSBORO, NC. WHILE EN ROUTE, HE ELECTED TO LAND AT ROANOKE, VA BECAUSE HIS FUEL WOULD BE LOW IF HE CONTINUED TO GREENSBORO. AT ROANOKE, THE PLT BEGAN THE LDA APPROACH TO RWY 05. THE WEATHER WAS REPORTED, IN PART, AS: 200 FT BROKEN, 400 FT OVERCAST, VISIBILITY 2 MI WITH LIGHT RAIN & FOG. THE MINIMUMS FOR THE PRECISION APPROACH WAS 400 FT CEILING & 1 MI VISIBILITY. AT 1152:37, THE PLT HAD BEGUN A MISSED APPROACH. SHORTLY AFTER THAT, HE WAS ADVISED HE WAS FLYING TOWARD HIGH TERRAIN & WAS PROVIDED VECTORS. A SHORT TIME LATER, THE RADAR CONTROLLER NOTED THAT THE ACFT DESCENDED FROM 2800 TO 1800 FT, THEN RADAR CONTACT WAS LOST. A WITNESS SAW THE ACFT MANEUVERING AT 75 TO 100 FT AGL, JUST BEFORE IT IMPACTED A TREE & A TV TRANSMISSION LINE. AN EXAM OF THE WRECKAGE REVEALED NO EVIDENCE OF A PREIMPACT MALFUNCTION OR FAILURE. AN ESTIMATION OF FUEL COMPUTATION INDICATED ONLY ABOUT 23 GAL WOULD BE REMAINING.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N5885V](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5885V-2013-10-23), registration cancelled 2013-10-23, S/N 34-7770267, built 1977 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-34-200T
- Registry model: [Piper PA-34-200T](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-34-200t) (registry code 7103406) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental TSIO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-tsio-360-series) (registry code 17019, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 7770267
- Airframe hours: 1555
- Engines: CONTINENTAL TSIO-360-E 200 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Levesque Air Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Unknown, November 1, 1982, 119 hours before
- Departed: PAINESVILLE, OH
- Destination: ROA, ROANOKE, VA
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: ROA, Roanoke Muni., runway 5, 5,904 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 52; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 1,036 total, 102 in this make and model, 52 in the last 90 days, 18 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day
- Wind: 280° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 2 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 400 ft overcast
- Temperature: 37 °F, dew point 36 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: ROA

## 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 19830327009549A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19830327009549A), Mar 27, 1983: Piper PA34200T, Roanoke, VA, Destroyed, 4 fatal. Lost control trying to return to airport on a missed approach under a 200 foot broken ceiling. Hit trees, wires.

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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