# NTSB ATL92FA008: Piper PA-28RT-201T, N83027, Spring Lake, NC, October 16, 1991

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: October 16, 1991, 10:14 local (14:14 UTC)
- Place: Spring Lake, NC
- Coordinates: 35.170444, -78.979187 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.1704&lon=-78.9792&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report March 31, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 8484
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL92FA008
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/8484/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL92FA008

## Probable cause

THE INADVERTENT FLIGHT FROM VISUAL FLIGHT RULES FLIGHT CONDITIONS INTO INSTRUMENT FLIGHT RULES FLIGHT CONDITIONS BY THE NON-INSTRUMENT RATED PILOT, AND HIS SUBSEQUENT FAILURE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT.

## 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 - clouds
- Loss of control - in flight, maneuvering - turn to reverse direction
  - vfr flight into imc - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
  - aircraft control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
- Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

THE NON-INSTRUMENT RATED PILOT REPORTED TO APPROACH CONTROL THAT HE WAS IN THE CLOUDS, AND MAKING A 180 DEGREE TURN. A PILOT WITNESS STATED THAT THE AIRCRAFT EXITED THE BASE OF THE CLOUD LAYER IN A 45 DEGREE NOSE DOWN ATTITUDE, AND IN A 20 DEGREE LEFT BANK. THE WITNESS ESTIMATED THE SPEED OF THE AIRCRAFT TO BE APPROXIMATELY 250 KNOTS. THE PILOT'S OPERATING HANDBOOK FOR THE AIRCRAFT LISTS THE MAXIMUM MANEUVERING SPEED AT 121 KNOTS. THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK HIGH POWER LINES AND CRASHED IN A WOODED AREA. THE LEFT AND RIGHT WINGS OF THE AIRCRAFT WERE FOUND BENEATH THE POWER LINES, AND DID NOT SHOW ANY INDICATION OF HAVING STRUCK THE POWER LINES. THE SPAR FRACTURES IN THE WINGS WERE IN AN UPWARD OR POSITIVE DIRECTION. A LARGE PIECE OF THE 1 1/4 INCH DIAMETER POWER CABLE WAS FOUND WRAPPED AROUND THE PROPELLER HUB AND PROPELLER.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N83027](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N83027-2013-05-30), registration cancelled 2013-05-30, S/N 28R-8131036, built 1980 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28RT-201T (PA-28RT-20)
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28RT-201T](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28rt-201t) (registry code 7102817) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental TSIO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-tsio-360-series) (registry code 17019, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 28R-8131036
- Airframe hours: 1150
- Engines: CONTINENTAL TSIO=360-FB 200 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Carite, Charles, doing business as Amc Aviation, Inc.
- Registered owner: Carite, Charles
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, November 8, 1990, 31 hours before
- Departed: AGC, PITTSBURGH, PA
- Destination: CRE, MYRTLE BEACH, SC

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 56; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 926 total, 796 in this make and model, 838 as pilot in command

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 50° at 10 knots, gusting 17
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 1,500 ft broken
- Temperature: 52 °F, dew point 48 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: FBG, 2 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 19911016046779A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19911016046779A), Oct 16, 1991: Piper PA28RT201T, Spring Lake, NC, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Flew into clouds en route. Seen in high speed spiral dive. Leveled and broke up prior impact with wires and ground.

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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