ATL97LA096

The airplane departed runway 16, with a slight tailwind, and made a climbing left turn. About three minutes later, the airplane struck the trees on the side of a mountain, and began burning. The published procedure in the Airport Facility Directory (AFD) for departing this airport states right turning traffic patterns are recommended, due to the mountainous terrain. When queried about this fact, the pilot stated he was unable to find Avery County-Morrison Field in an AFD, and saw no signs indicating the direction of the traffic pattern. The pilot stated he looked in the AFD under both Avery County and Morrison Field. The airport is listed under Spruce Pine. The airport facility has since placed signs throughout the main building and on the runways.

On July 5, 1997, at 0948 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-28-140, N5807U, collided with trees and the ground after departing from Avery County-Morrison Field, Spruce Pine, North Carolina. The airplane was operated by the pilot, on a personal flight, under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91 and visual flight rules. The prevailing weather was visual meteorological conditions and no flight plan was filed. The airplane incurred substantial damage. The private pilot and his passenger were seriously injured. The flight was originating at the time of the accident, and it was destined for Fredericksburg, Virginia.

The pilot stated that he had done a thorough pre-flight that morning. He had called the local flight service station twice before he departed. According to the pilot, early in the morning, there was fog in the area, so he decided to delay his departure until the fog burned off. When it did, the pilot called for another weather briefing, and advised the controller he would file a visual flight rules flight plan once he was airborne. He also stated he attempted to find the airport in the Airport Facility Directory under Avery County and Morrison Field, but was unable to locate the airport. The airport is listed under Spruce Pine.

Upon arriving at the airport, the pilot stated he talked to a number of people in the airport lounge. They discussed his experience, destination, flight plan, and the weather. Although the wind was favoring runway 34, the local pilot informed him that "everyone takes off runway 16".

After departing runway 16, with a slight tailwind, the pilot stated the airplane was not climbing very well. He turned his crosswind leg between to ridges, and "knew he was in trouble". At this point, he stated he was afraid to turn because he might lose altitude and airspeed. So, he continued straight ahead. About 45 to 50 feet from the top of the peak, the airplane "bellied" into the trees. It settled into the trees, and landed with the nose pointed into the ground. A fire erupted from the engine, so the pilot evacuated himself and his passenger.

A witness observed the pilot depart from runway 16, and make a left climbing turn. After about three minutes, "MAYDAY, MAYDAY" was heard over the radio, followed by smoke coming from the trees.

The terrain around the airport was mountainous. There were ridges to all sides of the runway, but two peaks were significantly closer than others. Within a 1000 foot area around the runway, there were two peaks with elevations higher than the runway elevation. One was to the left side of the departure end of runway 16, and the other was directly ahead of the departure end of 34. Both peaks were about 60 feet higher than the runway, and 1000 feet away. To the right side of the departure end of runway 16, the terrain was approximately 70 feet lower than the runway elevation. For this reason, the Airport Facility Directory (AFD), recommended right turning traffic patterns when departing from runway 16. Unless the AFD states otherwise, the standard traffic pattern has left turns.

The pilot stated he had approximately 15 to 20 hours of cross-country time in mountainous terrain. He had never flown to Avery County-Morrison Field before.

At the time this accident occurred, the Avery County-Morrison Airport did not have any placards in the facility or signs on the runway stating that right hand traffic was recommended. Since this accident occurred, the airport has placed a number of signs throughout the facility that indicate the right turning traffic pattern.