# NTSB ATL83LA100: Piper PA-23-250, N54244, St. Joseph, TN, February 6, 1983

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: February 6, 1983, 07:00 local (13:00 UTC)
- Place: St. Joseph, TN
- Coordinates: 35.02919, -87.490234 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.0292&lon=-87.4902&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 6005
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL83LA100
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/6005/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL83LA100

## Sequence of events

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

- Overrun, landing - roll
  - weather condition - fog (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor)
  - light condition - dark night (contributing factor)
  - terrain condition - wet (contributing factor)
  - proper glidepath - misjudged, pilot in command (cause)
  - airspeed - excessive, pilot in command (cause)
  - proper touchdown point - not attained, pilot in command (cause)
  - go-around - not performed, pilot in command (cause)
- On ground/water collision with object, landing - roll
  - object - fence (contributing factor)
  - object - tree(s) (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE AIRCRAFT OVERRAN THE END OF THE RUNWAY DURING A NIGHT LANDING IN IMC WEATHER. THE RUNWAY WAS A PRIVATE DIRT STRIP. FLIGHT PURPOSE IS NOT KNOWN BUT IT IS SUSPECTED IT WAS A DRUG SMUGGLING FLIGHT. THE AIRCRAFT LANDED LONG ON THE 2400 FOOT STRIP AND WENT OFF THE END ACROSS A ROAD, THROUGH A FENCE AND INTO SMALL PINE TREES BEFORE STOPPING 1200 FEET FROM THE END OF THE RUNWAY. THREE MEN IN TWO VEHICLES FOLLOWED THE AIRCRAFT AND HELPED THE PILOT UNLOAD SEVERAL SMALL BROWN PACKAGES BEFORE ALL OF THEM ABANDONED THE AIRCRAFT. THE OWNER IN FLORIDA CLAIMED THE AIRCRAFT WAS STOLEN TWO DAYS PRIOR TO ACCIDENT FROM A LOCKED HANGER. NEITHER THE HANGER NOR THE AIRCRAFT SHOWED ANY SIGNS OF FORCED ENTRY. ALSO THE AIRCRAFT HAD SOPHISTICATED EQUIPMENT ON BOARD WHICH WOULD HAVE TAKEN 5 DAYS TO INSTALL. THE OWNER CLAIMED NO KNOWLEDGE OF THE EQUIPMENT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N54244](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N54244-2015-05-19), registration cancelled 2015-05-19, S/N 27-4349, built 1969 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-23-250
- Registry model: [Piper PA-23-250](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-23-250) (registry code 7102308) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming TI0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-ti0-540-series) (registry code 41533, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 27-4349
- Airframe hours: 4131
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-540-C4B5 250 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Richard Renner
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, May 7, 1982, 142 hours before
- Airport: Circle E, runway 31, 2,400 ×  ft, dirt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: unknown, unknown; seat: left

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Night/dark
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 1 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 500 ft unknown
- Temperature: 39 °F, dew point 37 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: MSL, 18 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 19830206002899A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19830206002899A), Feb 6, 1983: Piper PA23250, St Joseph, TN, Substantial damage. Overshot private dirt strip on a night landing. Ran through a fence and trees. Evidence stolen plane on drug flight.

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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