# NTSB ATL92FA102: Piper PA-32-260, N2259T, Greenville, NC, May 15, 1992

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: May 15, 1992, 06:39 local (10:39 UTC)
- Place: Greenville, NC
- Location: 35.6248° N, 77.3958° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs from NTSB’s distance and direction from PITT-GREENVILLE (PGV), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.6248&lon=-77.3958&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 6 fatal
- Status: Completed, report January 27, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 8506
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL92FA102
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/8506/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL92FA102

## Probable cause

FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN A PROPER CLIMB RATE AFTER TAKEOFF AFTER BECOMING SPATIALLY DISORIENTED.  FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS, THE PILOT'S SELF-INDUCED PRESSURE TO MAKE THE FLIGHT, AND HIS LACK OF TOTAL INSTRUMENT FLIGHT EXPERIENCE.

## 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
  - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - fog (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - obscuration (contributing factor)
  - flight into known adverse weather - initiated, pilot in command
  - self-induced pressure, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - proper climb rate - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - spatial disorientation, pilot in command (cause)
  - lack of total instrument time, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, takeoff

## Analysis

THE PILOT HAD OBTAINED HIS INSTRUMENT RATING TWO DAYS BEFORE THE ACCIDENT.  HE HAD STATED TO A FORMER INSTRUCTOR THAT HE NEEDED THE INSTRUMENT RATING TO AVOID GETTING STUCK ON TRIPS.  FURTHER, HE WAS CONCERNED THAT HIS FAMILY & FRIENDS WOULD BE DISAPPOINTED, IF THIS TRIP WAS CANCELLED OR DELAYED.  AT 0621 EDT, THE WEATHER WAS, IN PART: SKY PARTIALLY OBSCURED, CEILING 200 FEET OVERCAST, VISIBILITY 1/4 MILE WITH FOG, WIND CALM.  AT 0641 EDT (2 MIN AFTER THE ACDNT), THE VISIBILITY HAD DROPPED TO ZERO.  RADAR DATA SHOWED THAT AFTER TAKEOFF FROM RUNWAY 25, THE AIRPLANE REACHED AN ALTITUDE OF 300 FEET.  IT THEN CRASHED INTO WOODED TERRAIN ABOUT 1/4 MILE SOUTH OF THE EXTENDED RUNWAY CENTER LINE & ABOUT ONE MILE FROM THE AIRPORT CENTER.  IT WAS IN A STEEP LEFT BANK, WHEN IT CRASHED.  THE AIRPLANE CAME TO REST INVERTED.  NO PREIMPACT PART FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION OF THE PLANE WAS FOUND, THOUGH IT WAS NEARLY CONSUMED BY POST-IMPACT FIRE.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N2259T](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2259T-2011-07-22), registration cancelled 2011-07-22, S/N 32-7100026, built 1971 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-32-260
- Registry model: [Piper PA-32-260](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32-260) (registry code 7103206) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-540F1 SERIE](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-540f1-serie) (registry code 41531, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 32-7100026
- Engines: LYCOMING O-540-E4B5 260 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Marshburn, Thomas E.
- Registered owner: Marshburn, Thomas E.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, April 6, 1992
- Destination: SAV, SAVANNAH, GA
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: PGV, Pitt-Greenville, runway 25, 4,997 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 48; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; toxicology performed; flight hours: 456 total, 357 in this make and model, 364 as pilot in command

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Dawn
- Wind: calm
- Lowest ceiling: 200 ft overcast
- Temperature: 61 °F, dew point 59 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: PGV, 1 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 19920515015239A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19920515015239A), May 15, 1992: Piper PA32260, Greenville, NC, Destroyed, 6 fatal. Struck trees in IMC on IFR climbout. Failed to assure proper climb and aircraft attitude.

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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