# NTSB ATL84FA093: Piper PA-32RT-300T, N22457, Bluefield, WV, February 9, 1984

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: February 9, 1984, 06:04 local (11:04 UTC)
- Place: Bluefield, WV
- Coordinates: 37.259033, -81.210754 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.2590&lon=-81.2108&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 4 fatal, 2 serious
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 6252
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL84FA093
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/6252/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL84FA093

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - in flight, takeoff - initial climb
  - procedures/directives - not followed, pilot in command
  - qualification, pilot in command
  - light condition - dark night (contributing factor)
  - visual/aural detection, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - landing light(s) - failure,total (contributing factor)
  - diverted attention, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - aircraft handling - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command
  - proper climb rate - not maintained, pilot in command
- In flight collision with object, takeoff - initial climb
  - object - tree(s) (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

THE NON-INSTRUMENT RATED PLT BEGAN HIS TAKEOFF DURING THE HOURS OF DARKNESS, BUT IN VMC WX. HE STATED THAT DURING THE TAKEOFF ROLL AT ABOUT 65 TO 75 KTS JUST PRIOR TO ROTATION, THE LANDING LIGHT EXTINGUISHED. PLT STATED THAT 2 TO 3 SECONDS LATER, HE ROTATED & DUE TO THE LONG NOSE OF THE ACFT, HE LOST SIGHT OF THE RWY LIGHTS. HE CHECKED THE INSTRUMENTS TO KEEP THE ACFT IN A PROPER CLIMB, BUT SHORTLY THEREAFTER, THE LEFT WING HIT THE TOP OF A TALL TREE. THE PLT'S FATHER SAID HE OBSERVED THE ACFT ENTERING A LEFT TURN AFTER LIFT-OFF, THEN HE LOST SIGHT OF THE PLANE. THE ONLY SURVIVING PASSENGER SAID THE ENG SOUND REMAINED CONSTANT, BUT THE ACFT VEERED LEFT AFTER LIFT-OFF. MOMENTS LATER, THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH TREES, CRASHED & BURNED. INITIAL IMPACT OCCURRED ON A HEADING OF 030 DEG, ABOUT 500 FT LEFT OF THE RWY. NO PREIMPACT/PART FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION WAS FOUND. THE PLT HAD BEEN TREATED FOR GLAUCOMA & HAD BEEN DENIED A 3RD CLASS MEDICAL CERTIFICATE ON 1/31/84, AWAITING AN EYE EVALUATION. ARPT ELEV 2857 FT; CRASH SITE ELEV APRX 2400 FT

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N22457](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N22457-2014-09-16), registration cancelled 2014-09-16, S/N 32R-7887262, built 1978 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-32RT-300T (PA-32RT-30)
- Registry model: [Piper PA-32RT-300T](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32rt-300t) (registry code 7103216) (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: 32R-7887262
- Airframe hours: 796
- Engines: LYCOMING TIO-540-S1AD 300 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Business, Part 91
- Registered owner: Mimex Company, Inc. & Dean Co.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, February 8, 1984
- Destination: CRW, CHARLESTON, WV
- Airport: BFL, Mercer County, runway 5, 4,743 × 100 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 29; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, invalid medical for flight; seat: left; flight hours: 210 total, 57 in this make and model, 165 as pilot in command, 65 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 250° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 36 °F, dew point 1 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: BLF, 5 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 19840209003009A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19840209003009A), Feb 9, 1984: Piper PA32RT300T, Bluefield, WV, Destroyed, 4 fatal. Stalled on climbout hit trees. Impacted ravine. Load aft of CG. Trim tab full nose up. Lost medical due to glaucoma

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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