# NTSB ATL83LA118: Piper PA-34-200T, N6075H, Ahoskie, NC, February 23, 1983

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: February 23, 1983, 12:15 local (17:15 UTC)
- Place: Ahoskie, NC
- Coordinates: 36.279888, -76.979476 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.2799&lon=-76.9795&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 6021
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL83LA118
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/6021/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL83LA118

## 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 - lightning strike (cause)
- Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, cruise - normal
  - flight/nav instruments - disabled
  - comm/nav equipment - disabled
  - performed, pilot in command

## Analysis

THE ACFT WAS STRUCK BY LIGHTNING WHILE CRUISING AT 9000 FT MSL. AT THAT TIME, THE PLT OBSERVED A BLUE FLASH OFF THE NOSE & HEARD A LOUD BOOM. ALL RADIOS AND NAVIGATIONAL & ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT BECAME INOP. THE PLT CIRCLED DOWN THRU A HOLE IN THE CLOUDS & LANDED. AN EXAM OF THE ACFT REVEALED A CRACKED RADOME, SPLIT SKIN ON THE NOSE & HOLES IN THE LEFT STABILIZER. BOTH ENGS WERE MAGNETIZED. ALSO, THERE WAS DAMAGE IN THE BATTERY BOX AREA & THE ACFT CONTINUED TO HAVE RADIO PROBLEMS FOR A NUMBER OF MONTHS.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N6075H](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6075H-1992-03-26), registration cancelled 1992-03-26, S/N 347870050 (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)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 34-7870050
- Airframe hours: 1800
- Engines: CONTINENTAL TSIO-360-E 200 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Executive/Corporate, Part 91
- Registered owner: Carter Manufacturing Co.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, October 3, 1982
- Departed: 71J, OZARK, AL
- Destination: ORF, NORFOLK, VA
- Flight plan: IFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 27; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, unknown; seat: left; flight hours: 1,392 total, 425 in this make and model, 1,180 as pilot in command, 109 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Day
- Lowest ceiling: 500 ft broken
- Temperature: 28 °F

## 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 19830223006779A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19830223006779A), Feb 23, 1983: Piper PA34200T, Ahoskie, NC, Substantial damage. Lightning strike to radome during IFR cruise. Lost radios and electrical equipment. Found a hole and landed safely.

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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