# NTSB ATL83FLJ01: Piper PA-28-140, N98302, Robersonville, NC, January 20, 1983

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Final report
- Date: January 20, 1983, 16:30 local (21:30 UTC)
- Place: Robersonville, NC
- Coordinates: 35.82022, -77.250358 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.8202&lon=-77.2504&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): 5976
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL83FLJ01
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/5976/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL83FLJ01

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power, cruise - normal
  - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause)
- Forced landing, landing - flare/touchdown
- In flight collision with object, landing - flare/touchdown
  - object - tree(s) (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, landing - flare/touchdown

## Analysis

THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH TREES DURING AN ATTEMPTED EMERGENCY LANDING. THE ACFT WAS 5 MILES FORM AN AIRPORT. THE PILOT HAD CALLED ON UNICOM AND SAID HE WAS LOST AND HAD PARTIAL POWER LOSS. HE ASKED IF ANYONE COULD HEAR HIM AND HE DIDNOT BELIEVE HE COULD MAKE THE AIRPORT AS HE WAS TOO LOW. HE WAS GIVEN THE NDB FREQUENCY FOR THE AIRPORT. HE WAS ADVISED THAT HE WAS TOO FAR AWAY TO BE HEARD. IN HIS LAST TRANSMISSION THE PILOT SAID HE DID NOT HAVE THE AIRPORT IN SIGHT AND WAS NOT SURE OF HIS LOCATION. HE SAID HE WAS GOING TO LAND OFF THE AIRPORT. WHEN THERE WERE NO FURTHER TRANSMISSIONS THESHERIFF'S OFFICE WAS NOTIFIED. NO MECHANICAL IRREGULARITY COULD BE FOUND IN THE AIRFRAME OR ENGINE THAT COULD HAVE PRODUCED A LOSS OF POWER.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N98302 (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28-140
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 28-26159
- Airframe hours: 3227
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-E2A 150 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Business, Part 91
- Operator: Colonial Aviation, Inc.
- Registered owner: Rex F. Tillotson
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, November 24, 1982, 12 hours before
- Departed: ILM, WILMINGTON, NC
- Destination: W70, WILLIAMSBURG, VA
- Flight plan: VFR
- Airport: MCZ, Martin County

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 24; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 1,497 total, 20 in this make and model, 1,361 as pilot in command, 191 in the last 90 days, 53 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 40° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 7,000 ft overcast
- Temperature: 32 °F, dew point 18 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: RWI, 35 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 19830120001149A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19830120001149A), Jan 20, 1983: Piper PA28140, Robersonville, NC, Destroyed, 2 fatal. Aircraft hit trees and crashed during attempted emergency landing after engine quit.

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.