# NTSB ATL84LA055: Cessna T303, N2302C, Charlotte, NC, November 25, 1983

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: November 25, 1983, 18:00 local (23:00 UTC)
- Place: Charlotte, NC
- Coordinates: 35.230766, -80.909446 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.2308&lon=-80.9094&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 6392
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL84LA055
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/6392/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL84LA055

## Sequence of events

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

- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, taxi - to takeoff
  - light condition - night (contributing factor)
  - terrain condition - ditch (contributing factor)
  - airport facilities,taxiway condition - inadequate (contributing factor)
  - airport facilities,taxiway marking - inadequate (contributing factor)
  - unsafe/hazardous condition - not identified, airport personnel (cause)

## Analysis

DURING TAXI FOR TAKEOFF THE PILOT BECAME DISORIENTED AND THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH A DITCH WHERE CONSTRUCTION OF A NEW TAXIWAY AND OLD ASPHALT CONNECTED. THE PLT STATED HE COULD NOT DETERMINE THE DIFFERENCE IN THE LEVELS OF THE TWO SURFACES. THE TAXIWAY WAS NOT LIGHTED NOR WAS THE DUGOUT AREA BARRICADED OR MARKED.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N2302C](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2302C-1992-03-03), registration cancelled 1992-03-03, S/N T30300094 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA T303
- Registry model: [Cessna T303](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-t303) (registry code 2073820) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: T 3030094
- Airframe hours: 125
- Engines: CONTINENTAL TSI-O52AE 250 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Bill Small
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, April 5, 1983, 54 hours before
- Departed: CLT, CHARLOTTE
- Destination: GASTONIA, NC
- Flight plan: Unknown
- Airport: CLT, Douglass

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 56; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 13,000 total, 150 in this make and model, 50 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Not reported
- Temperature: -0 °F, dew point -0 °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 19831125059059A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19831125059059A), Nov 25, 1983: Cessna T303, Charlotte, NC, Substantial damage. Became disoriented on unmarked taxiway at night and struck a ditch trying to return to taxiway.

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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