# NTSB ATL91FA052: Piper PA-31-350, N27818, Munford, AL, February 7, 1991

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: February 7, 1991, 08:30 local (14:30 UTC)
- Place: Munford, AL
- Coordinates: 33.529045, -85.91925 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.5290&lon=-85.9193&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 4 fatal
- Status: Completed, report July 17, 1992
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 8312
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL91FA052
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/8312/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL91FA052

## Probable cause

THE PILOT ATTEMPTING VISUAL FLIGHT IN INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS BELOW THE MINIMUM SAFE ALTITUDE FOR TERRAIN CLEARANCE. CONTRIBUTING FACTORS WERE THE LOW CEILING AND MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN.

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight collision with terrain/water, cruise - normal
  - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor)
  - vfr flight into imc - attempted, pilot in command (cause)
  - terrain condition - mountainous/hilly (contributing factor)
  - proper altitude - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

DURING AN UPDATED 0528 EST WX BRIEFING, THE PILOT WAS ADVISED OF FLIGHT PRECAUTIONS FOR IFR WEATHER CONDITIONS IN THE GEORGIA AND ALABAMA AREAS. AT 0841 EST HE DEPARTED MACON, GA ON AN IFR FLIGHT PLAN TO ANNISTON, AL. AT O821 CST, APRX 22 MI SE FROM THE ANNISTON ARPT, THE PILOT CONTACTED ATLANTA CENTER AND CANCELLED HIS IFR FLIGHT PLAN. HE WAS ADVISED THAT THE MINIMUM SAFE ALTITUDE IN HIS AREA WAS 2,900 FT MSL. TWO MINUTES LATER HE CONTACTED ANNISTON RADIO AND REQUESTED LOCAL WX CONDITIONS. HE WAS GIVEN THE LATEST REPORTED (0756 CST) WX AS CEILING 1,500 BROKEN, 3,100 OVERCAST, 5 MI WITH FOG. THE ANNISTON AIRPORT FIELD ELEVATION IS 526 FT. THE AIRCRAFT SUBSEQUENTLY IMPACTED A MOUNTAIN TOP 10 MI SOUTH OF THE AIRPORT AT AN ELEVATION OF APRX 2,300 FT. THE 0850 CST ANNISTON WX WAS 800 FT OVERCAST, 4 MI IN FOG.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N27818](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N27818-2014-09-25), registration cancelled 2014-09-25, S/N 31-7952001, built 1978 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-31-350
- Registry model: [Piper PA-31-350](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-31-350) (registry code 7103110) (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: 31-7952001
- Engines: LYCOMING TIO-540-J2BD 310 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Part 135
- Operator: Macon Horizons, Inc
- Registered owner: Macon Horizons, Inc
- Departed: MCN, MACON, GA
- Destination: ANB, ANNISTON, AL

## 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.; toxicology performed; flight hours: 3,000 total

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day
- Wind: 240° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 4 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 800 ft overcast
- Temperature: 54 °F, dew point 52 °F
- Observed at: ANB, 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 19910207003909A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19910207003909A), Feb 7, 1991: Piper PA31350, Anniston, AL, Destroyed, 4 fatal. Cancelled IFR inbound and impacted cloud obscured mountain top. Was advised moca but impact was 600 feet below moca

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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